Viktor Yushchenko is front-runner as Ukraine prepares to vote third time for new president
Viktor Yushchenko front-runner as Ukraine to vote third time
Viktor Yushchenko is an evident leader in opinion polls as almost 40 million of Ukrainians are preparing to vote on Sunday to determine who will replace outgoing President Leonid Kuchma. It is going to be the third voting in just 5 weeks and the second run-off with Western-oriented opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko and his pro-oligarchial Russia-backed rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. The Supreme Court of Ukraine ruled the November 21 ballot box was fraudulent, annulled Yanukovich’s victory and ordered the re-run on December 26 after more than two weeks of unprecedented opposition street protests lead by the opposition.
Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko is also a clear favourite as to his reputation within Ukraine, in Europe and worldwide. Even the president of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, who supported Victor Yanukovich in a pointed manner, assumed Russia’s readiness to cooperate with Victor Yushchenko.
Related articles:
After Williams, Klitschko to fight Lewis?
Ukraine gov’t stall again; try everything to cling to power
Ukraine PM & gov’t fall?
Yushchenko sends family into hiding, receives death threats
Ukraine separatism fuelling revolution as Kuchma stalls
Ukraine latest: election stand-off. Which Viktor will be victor?
Mass street protests in the capital Kiev (Kyiv) and most of major cities of Ukraine resulted in not only the new election, but also landmark changes in Ukraine's civil society, political landscape, electoral law, even country’s Constitution and caused a huge increase in world’s interest to Ukraine.
Related articles:
Klitschko rallies world celebrities for YushchenkoEven Dynamo Kiev and Klitscho fighting for Yushchenko...
Ukraine latest: violence looming as Yanukovych announced official winner
Ukraine latest: EU leaders to meet Yushchenko, Yanukovych, Kuchma
In the meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities vowed to uphold public order during a crucial presidential election rerun this weekend. "I want to appeal to representatives from the campaigns of both candidates to prevent their supporters from any disruptions of public order," general Vasyl Zhuk, the acting Ukrainian interior minister, stated today.
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was the declared the winner for a time, has said he has little choice but to compete in Sunday's poll, but he does so without the support of his one-time boss and advocate, President Kuchma, and numerous key campaign aides. Victor Yushchenko got a further boost after Austrian and UK doctors confirmed that he was poisoned with massive doses of dioxin during the campaign, possibly by Ukrainian government officials.
Related article:
Ukraine: autorities tried to disarm Viktor Yushchenko with dioxin
Viktor Yushchenko called on his supporters to stay true to the cause and return to the streets until absolute victory is secured.
At the same time, Yushchenko called on the government today to prevent any violence in connection with the presidential election. ``I think it will be a colossal mistake on the part of the current regime if even one drop of blood is shed in the coming days,'' Yushchenko said.
On the other hand, Viktor Yanukovych said his supporters might not accept Yushchenko as president and could march on Kiev in protest. He also warned of possible legal challenges following the revote on December 26. See also: Eastern Ukraine jams Channel 5 and Era TV.A record number of international observers have been registered in Ukraine for the election. International attention surrounding Ukraine remains truly unprecedented.
Related article:
Ukraine elections monopolise Google
