(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Party of Regions (PR) is clearly ahead of all other competitors in Ukraine, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Sociology Institute. 23.3 per cent of respondents would vote for the party led by former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych in the next election to the Supreme Council.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Party of Regions (PR) is clearly ahead of all other competitors in Ukraine, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Sociology Institute. 23.3 per cent of respondents would vote for the party led by former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych in the next election to the Supreme Council.
The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc is second with 12.5 per cent, followed by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Bloc with 10.2 per cent, the Communist Party of Ukraine (KPU) with 3.5 per cent, the Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc with 2.7 per cent, and the People’s Union-Our Ukraine (NS-NU) with 1.9 per cent.
A series of public demonstrations took place in Kiev after the November 2004 presidential run-off. The Ukrainian Supreme Court eventually invalidated the results of the second round, and ordered a special re-vote. Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko—whose supporters wore orange-coloured clothing at events and rallies—received 51.99 per cent of all cast ballots, defeating Yanukovych.
In 2006, the PR secured 186 seats in the Supreme Council. Yanukovych eventually became prime minister in a coalition government with the Socialist Party (SPU) and the KPU. After a long political stalemate and disagreements between the president and prime minister, a new legislative ballot took place in September 2007.
Final election results released in October gave the "orange forces"—including the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and Yushchenko’s NS-NU—228 seats, while Yanukovych and his allies took control of 202 seats. In December, Tymoshenko was ratified as prime minister, with the support of 225 lawmakers.
In September 2008, Ukraine’s governing coalition split in great part due to disagreements over a Georgia-Russia conflict. In the days following an incursion by Russian forces into South Ossetia, a Georgian breakaway province, Yushchenko asked the government to fiercely condemn Russia’s actions in Georgia, but Tymoshenko refused to take a strong stance against Russia. Yushchenko left the coalition as a result. A new parliamentary election was scheduled for Dec. 14, but was later postponed indefinitely on account of the global economic crisis.
On Apr. 21, Yanukovych officially revealed that he will run for president this year, saying, "I am certain that I will take part in the presidential election. I lead a party which has the top national rating. Naturally, we want to run in the election."
The presidential election is expected to take place on Oct. 25.
Polling Data
Which of these parties would you vote for in the next legislative election?
|
Party of Regions (PR) |
23.3% |
|
Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc |
12.5% |
|
Arseniy Yatsenyuk Bloc |
10.2% |
|
Communist Party of Ukraine (KPU) |
3.5% |
|
Volodymyr Lytvyn Bloc |
2.7% |
|
People’s Union-Our Ukraine (NS-NU) |
1.9% |
Source: Kyiv International Sociology Institute
Methodology: Interviews with 1,984 Ukrainian adults, conducted from Mar. 26 to Apr. 17, 2009. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
