Polls & Research

Most Ukrainians Support Early Election

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Ukraine agree that it is necessary to hold a snap legislative ballot, according to a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation. 49.7 per cent of respondents approve of Ukrainian president Victor Yushchenko's decision to call a new election this year, while 37.6 per cent disagree.

Ukrainian voters renewed the Supreme Council in March 2006. The Party of Regions (PR) won 186 seats in the legislative branch, followed by the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc with 129, Yushchenko's People's Union-Our Ukraine (NS-NU) with 81, the Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU) with 33, and the Communist Party of Ukraine (KPU) with 21 mandates. Parties require at least three per cent of the vote to qualify for proportional representation seats in the Supreme Council.

In July, the "anti-crisis" coalition—which includes the PR, the SPU and the KPU—was formally announced. In August, PR leader Viktor Yanukovych was confirmed as prime minister, while Yushchenko remained as president.

On Apr. 2, Yushchenko dissolved the Supreme Council and called an election for May 27, which was later re-scheduled for Jun. 24.

On May 7, Yushchenko justified his decision, declaring, "The state is in the final stage of settling the political crisis, and early elections are the best solution."

Yesterday, the main opposition parties ruled out any cooperation with Yanukovych's PR. NS-NU chairman Vyacheslav Kyrylenko explained the situation, saying, "An agreement signed between Our Ukraine and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc in February does not foresee any broad coalition, no alliance with the Party of Regions in a new parliament."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of current president Viktor Yushchenko's decision to call a new election?