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| Ukraine election: Comedian is front runner ahead of first round | Ukraine election: Comedian is front runner ahead of first round |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ukrainians are heading to the polls on Sunday to vote in the first round of presidential elections. | Ukrainians are heading to the polls on Sunday to vote in the first round of presidential elections. |
| Current leader Petro Poroshenko is seeking re-election but the surprise front runner is comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy. | Current leader Petro Poroshenko is seeking re-election but the surprise front runner is comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy. |
| Both candidates, along with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, have expressed largely pro-European views during campaigning. | Both candidates, along with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, have expressed largely pro-European views during campaigning. |
| None of the pro-Russian candidates are seen as serious contenders. | None of the pro-Russian candidates are seen as serious contenders. |
| If no candidate gets more than 50% on Sunday, the top two will fight it out in a second round on 21 April. | If no candidate gets more than 50% on Sunday, the top two will fight it out in a second round on 21 April. |
| A total of 39 candidates are on the ballot paper, but only the three front-runners are considered to have any chance of victory. | A total of 39 candidates are on the ballot paper, but only the three front-runners are considered to have any chance of victory. |
| The Ukrainian president has significant powers over security, defence and foreign policy and the ex-Soviet republic's system is described as semi-presidential. | The Ukrainian president has significant powers over security, defence and foreign policy and the ex-Soviet republic's system is described as semi-presidential. |
| Mr Poroshenko, one of Ukraine's wealthiest oligarchs, was elected in a snap vote after former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was toppled in the February 2014 Maidan Revolution, which was followed by Russia's annexation of Crimea and a Russian-backed insurgency in the east. | Mr Poroshenko, one of Ukraine's wealthiest oligarchs, was elected in a snap vote after former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was toppled in the February 2014 Maidan Revolution, which was followed by Russia's annexation of Crimea and a Russian-backed insurgency in the east. |
| The next president will inherit a deadlocked conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in the east, while Ukraine strives to fulfil EU requirements for closer economic ties. | The next president will inherit a deadlocked conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in the east, while Ukraine strives to fulfil EU requirements for closer economic ties. |
| The EU says that about 12% of Ukraine's 44 million people are disenfranchised, largely those who live in Russia and in Crimea, which Russia annexed in March 2014. | The EU says that about 12% of Ukraine's 44 million people are disenfranchised, largely those who live in Russia and in Crimea, which Russia annexed in March 2014. |
| Separatist-controlled areas are boycotting the election. | Separatist-controlled areas are boycotting the election. |
| Who are the main candidates? | Who are the main candidates? |
| Mr Zelenskiy, 41, is aiming to turn his satirical TV show - in which he portrays an ordinary citizen who becomes president after fighting corruption - into reality. | Mr Zelenskiy, 41, is aiming to turn his satirical TV show - in which he portrays an ordinary citizen who becomes president after fighting corruption - into reality. |
| He is seen as appealing to younger voters. His campaign has made extensive use of social media. | |
| President Poroshenko, 53, aims to appeal to conservative Ukrainians through his slogan "Army, Language, Faith". | President Poroshenko, 53, aims to appeal to conservative Ukrainians through his slogan "Army, Language, Faith". |
| He says his backing for the military has helped keep the separatists in eastern Ukraine in check. He also negotiated an Association Agreement with the EU, including visa-free travel for Ukrainians. During his tenure the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become independent of Russian control. | He says his backing for the military has helped keep the separatists in eastern Ukraine in check. He also negotiated an Association Agreement with the EU, including visa-free travel for Ukrainians. During his tenure the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become independent of Russian control. |
| However his campaign has been dogged by corruption allegations, including a scandal over defence procurement, which erupted last month. | However his campaign has been dogged by corruption allegations, including a scandal over defence procurement, which erupted last month. |
| The third contender is Yulia Tymoshenko, 58, who has served as prime minister and ran for president in 2010 and 2014. She played a leading role in the 2004 Orange Revolution, Ukraine's first big push to ally itself with the EU. | |
| The front-runner among the pro-Russian candidates, Yuriy Boyko, says he would "normalise" relations with Russia. | The front-runner among the pro-Russian candidates, Yuriy Boyko, says he would "normalise" relations with Russia. |