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Date set for Ukrainian election | Date set for Ukrainian election |
(1 day later) | |
Ukraine's parliament has set a date for the country's presidential election, ending a dispute over its timing. | Ukraine's parliament has set a date for the country's presidential election, ending a dispute over its timing. |
It will be held on 17 January, after a motion proposing that date was approved by 399 out of a total of 450 lawmakers. | It will be held on 17 January, after a motion proposing that date was approved by 399 out of a total of 450 lawmakers. |
The vote had been scheduled for October 2009, but President Viktor Yushchenko challenged that date and received the backing of the Constitutional Court. | The vote had been scheduled for October 2009, but President Viktor Yushchenko challenged that date and received the backing of the Constitutional Court. |
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, his political rival and former ally, says she also intends to run for president. | |
Mr Yushchenko, who took power after the so-called Orange Revolution of 2004, has seen his popularity plummet since taking power. | Mr Yushchenko, who took power after the so-called Orange Revolution of 2004, has seen his popularity plummet since taking power. |
Government paralysed | Government paralysed |
Presidential polls in Ukraine have traditionally been held on the last Sunday in October - but Mr Yushchenko took power in January 2005, three months after mass protests followed the fraudulent election victory of pro-Moscow candidate Viktor Yanukovych. | Presidential polls in Ukraine have traditionally been held on the last Sunday in October - but Mr Yushchenko took power in January 2005, three months after mass protests followed the fraudulent election victory of pro-Moscow candidate Viktor Yanukovych. |
And in May 2009, the Constitutional Court - Ukraine's highest court - agreed with the president's assertion that an October election would be "unconstitutional", overruling the date originally set by parliament. | And in May 2009, the Constitutional Court - Ukraine's highest court - agreed with the president's assertion that an October election would be "unconstitutional", overruling the date originally set by parliament. |
But the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev said three months of extra campaigning might not be enough to reverse the president's rock-bottom popularity rating. | |
He added that the rivalry between Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko had paralysed the workings of government. | He added that the rivalry between Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko had paralysed the workings of government. |
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