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Yanukovych Set for Political Comeback in Ukraine
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Party of Regions (PR) remains the most popular political organization in Ukraine, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Sociology Institute. 26.6 per cent of respondents would vote for the party headed by former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych in next year's election to the Supreme Council.
The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc—which includes the Batkivshchina (Fatherland) Party of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko—is second with 16.2 per cent, followed by the People's Union-Our Ukraine (NS-NU) coalition of current president Viktor Yushchenko with 15.2 per cent.
Ukrainian voters are set to renew their legislative branch on Mar. 26, 2006. In the 2002 ballot, Yushchenko's Our Ukraine (NU) bloc received 23.6 per cent of the vote and elected 112 members to the 450-seat legislative branch. Parties require at least three per cent of the vote to qualify for proportional representation seats in the Supreme Council.
On Dec. 20, Yanukovych ruled out any post-election deals with the parties headed by Tymoshenko and Yushchenko, declaring, "The Party of Regions considers impossible to collaborate with the Orange Forces, who this year took the responsibility on the state of affairs in the country and did not fulfill their obligations."
Yushchenko won the December 2004 presidential election in Ukraine, with 51.99 per cent of the vote in an unprecedented third round against Yanukovych. The head of state vowed to fight corruption and develop a closer relationship with the European Union (EU).
In September, Yushchenko sacked his entire cabinet, substituting Tymoshenko with Dnipropetrovsk governor Yuri Yekhanurov. The Ukrainian government had been affected by corruption allegations. Yushchenko's chief of staff Olexander Zinchenko—who tendered his resignation—had accused national security secretary Petro Poroshenko of bribery, media intrusion and interfering with the justice system. Poroshenko resigned, but has denied any wrongdoing.
Polling Data
If the election to the Supreme Council took place this Sunday, which party would you support?
Party of Regions (PR) | 26.6% |
Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc | 16.2% |
People's Union-Our Ukraine (NS-NU) | 15.2% |
Source: Kyiv International Sociology Institute
Methodology: Interviews with 2,017 Ukrainian adults, conducted from Dec. 3 to Dec. 20, 2005. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.