Ukraine Presidential Election Results: Yanukovych, Tymoshenko to Face Off in Second Round
On January 17, 2010 Ukraine held its presidential election. With over 80% of the vote counted, it is clear that Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych and current Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will face off in a second round runoff election on February 7.Other candidates include former Central Bank Chairman Sergey Tigipko, former Foreign Minister and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Arseniy Yatseniuk and incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko.
The following are the latest results of Sunday's first round of voting, as reported by Ukraine's Central Election Commission (with percentage of votes):
- Viktor Yanukovych - 35.76%
- Yulia Tymoshenko - 24.72%
- Sergey Tigipko - 13.05%
- Arseniy Yatseniuk - 6.96%
- Viktor Yushchenko - 5.33%
Who would you vote for on Sunday Mark?
As a total outsider reading up on this both Tymoshenko and Yanukovich both sound as corrupt as each other.
In any western country im sure both candidates would have had criminal charges brought against them for some of the things they've done in the past.
To me its sad that the Ukrainian people have to choose between these two but if you had to who would you vote for?
Posted by: Graham | February 3, 2010 2:13 PM
Graham,
That's a very good question and to be honest, I don't know. Due to my surgery, I didn't get a good chance to read up on all the candidates, but I was intrigued by Arseniy Yatseniuk, not that he is a choice in the runoff election.
With Tymoshenko, there is a good chance that the country will move in a more autocratic direction. Unfortunately, since she became prime minister (the second time), it is obvious she is looking out for her own selfish desires instead of the good of the country. She was instrumental in downsizing the power of the presidency while giving her own post more power. That helped make Yushchenko a lame duck, not that he would be a better choice than Tymoshenko.
On the other hand, Yanukovych is more likely to provide a more stable government for the country. However, that would be at the cost of returning to the despicable ways of the Kuchma regime.
When you look at the entire situation, it is interesting that Russia provided financial support to all the major candidates, including both Tymoshenko and Yanukovych (and also Yatseniuk). It certainly looks like they are trying to make sure they have a say in Ukrainian politics. I'm sure they would have more influence under a Yanukovych administration, but could still be influential under Tymoshenko, as well.
I have a hard time getting past the 2004 election fraud that Yanukovych was involved in, but I also have a hard time believing that Tymoshenko would really help improve the situation in Ukraine. I think the choice in this runoff election is trying to select who would be the lesser of two evils, and I'm not sure who that is. No wonder there is so much voter apathy in Ukraine.
Posted by: Mark
| February 3, 2010 2:37 PM
Hello from Ukraine !
Well, much our people did it then, they 'elected' Yanukovych, and already he has dashed over to Russia and sipped cocktails with Medvedev and Putin, we wonder what they REALLY spoke about, Gas? maybe, who knows !
Anyway, interesting site, I will continue reading your information on it.
Sincerely,
Marina.
Rivne [Rovno] Ukraine.
Posted by: Marina Demchuck | March 15, 2010 2:22 AM