Poroshenko sees danger of revenge, authoritarianism in context of upcoming elections

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he sees threats of authoritarianism and revenge in context of the upcoming presidential election scheduled for 2019. He pledged to guarantee democratic elections at all levels.

"The spectre of authoritarianism is not the only challenge associated with the upcoming elections. The threat of revenge is also topical," Poroshenko said on Thursday morning from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada, addressing the parliament with an annual message about the internal and external situation of Ukraine.

He said that in the Ukrainian political discourse proposals that promote "manifestly undemocratic models" are categorically unacceptable.

"Some openly advocates 'educated authoritarianism,' while others camouflage it as 'parliamentarianism of the Chancellor type.' If you read the content, and not the title, the chancellor has more powers than the Kaiser, and there is essentially a one-party system in the Reichstag. A regime of individual power has never led to anything good for Ukraine - this is a lesson that everyone should remember," Poroshenko said.

The president said there is a "fifth column" in Ukraine, on the basis of which there are tendencies to form a powerful pro-Russian opposition in the new parliament.

"…They are trying to gather their different ranks into a bunch, taking advantage of democracy… Our task is extremely difficult - to repulse them without violating the norms of European democracy. I see my role in the power of law and the power of persuasion to give no chance to those who could question our own path, the path of independence, the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, "the president said.

Poroshenko said he shares the opinion of the Verkhovna Rada speaker that during the elections the issue of information security in Ukraine should be paramount.

"I am glad that the depth of this problem is also realized in the parliament," he said.

"As a president, I guarantee free, fair and democratic elections for the head of state, the new parliament, local self-government bodies. The process of expression of will must meet our European strategy and reaffirm Ukraine as the leader in respecting the standards of democracy in the post-Soviet space," Poroshenko said.