Digest № 9 Presidential Elections 2010





On January 17, 2010 the first round of the Presidential elections was held in Ukraine. Presidential elections 2010 impressed international democratic community with the consolidated progress achieved by Ukraine since 2004.
The international observation missions highly evaluated the elections marking the significant progress since the past, as they fulfilled most of the OSCE and Council of Europe standards. Ukraine has proven that it can hold a fair election. For example the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short-term observers João Soares stated that this was a good and competitive election and very promising for the future of Ukraine´s democracy.
The election turnout was 66.76%, which is lower compared to 75% in the first round of the 2004 poll. None of the 18 candidates was able to get 50% plus one vote necessary for a victory in the first round of the Ukrainian presidential elections. The official results allow to infer that leader of the Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych (having won 35,32% of the votes) and current Prime-Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (with 25,05%) will face each other in the second round of the election that is scheduled on February 7, 2010.
Other candidates for the Presidency former Central Bank Chairman Sergiy Tigipko won 13.05%, former Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk 6.96%, President Viktor Yushchenko 5.45%, leader of the Communist party Petro Symonenko 3.54%, Chairman of the Parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn 2.35%, leader of "Svoboda" Oleh Tiahnybok 1.43%, and former Defence Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko 1.2%. Other nine presidential candidates scored below 1% of the vote. 2,2% of the voters stated absence of support to any of the candidates.
The second round of the Presidential elections in Ukraine will take place on February 7, 2010. Rukh’s President Borys Tarasyuk believes that Yulia Tymoshenko has a greater chance of winning in the second round.
All democratic candidates won nearly 60% of people’s support in the first round. And in reality in case of alliance of all national-democratic political parties, like it was in 2004, Yulia Tymoshenko would have serious chances to become next President of Ukraine.
Since the third round of Rukh’s XVIII Congress on October 24, 2009 which adopted a decision to support Yulia Tymoshenko Rukh urged to stand by the current Prime-Minister as a single candidate from the democratic forces.
Therefore the People’s Movement of Ukraine sincerely welcomes the statement of our friend President of the European People’s Party Wilfried Martens where he on behalf of the EPP called on all democratic forces of Ukraine and the EPP partners in Ukraine to consolidate and support Yulia Tymoshenko, in order to prevent the return of the political forces of the past, to preserve the ideals of the Orange Revolution, and to open a new European path for Ukraine.
Despite the statement of the two candidates who came third and forth, Serhiy Tigipko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk respectively, in which they declined to support any candidate in the second round, Yulia Tymoshenko is more likely to attract voters.
According to analysts in the second round of the Presidential elections, Yulia Tymoshenko can expect to get additional 20% of votes, while her opponent, Viktor Yanukovych only 3-5%.
Democratic Ukraine once again is facing a danger and all representatives of national-democratic political forces ought to consolidate efforts in order to support democracy in Ukraine and mobilize our electorate. Undoubtedly after unifying our efforts the democratic forces will win.
Rukh is convinced that the current Prime Minister of Ukraine, Chairman of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia Tymoshenko is a leader able to lead Ukraine to its European future.
Rukh’s President Ambassador Borys Tarasyuk is convinced that if Victor Yanukovych wins the presidential elections the Russian Federation Black Sea Fleet will remain in Ukraine and Ukraine will fail in realization of its European course. Also the politician stated that if Yulia Tumoshenko wins, the bilateral relations with Russia will become more pragmatic and constructive while Ukraine’s strategic course towards European integration will be realized. As a result Ukraine will benefit alongside Russia and entire Europe.
Yulia Tymoshenko consistently demonstrated responsibility, leadership and political courage. Rukh is convinced that this politician will not fail but confidently pave Ukraine’s way towards the European Union.

 

Digest № 9

January 19, 2010