This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/world/europe/ukrainian-parliamentary-elections.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine President Claims Win for Pro-West Parties | Ukraine President Claims Win for Pro-West Parties |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — Pro-Western parties won an overwhelming majority in Ukraine’s Parliament, President Petro O. Poroshenko declared on Sunday, citing exit polls. | KIEV, Ukraine — Pro-Western parties won an overwhelming majority in Ukraine’s Parliament, President Petro O. Poroshenko declared on Sunday, citing exit polls. |
| With the country still on a war-footing with Russian separatists in the east, Mr. Poroshenko hailed Sunday’s vote as a resounding endorsement of his government’s efforts to break free of Kremlin influence and shift hard toward Europe. | With the country still on a war-footing with Russian separatists in the east, Mr. Poroshenko hailed Sunday’s vote as a resounding endorsement of his government’s efforts to break free of Kremlin influence and shift hard toward Europe. |
| “I asked you to vote for a democratic, reformist, pro-Ukrainian and pro-European majority,” he said in a statement posted on his website after polls closed. “Thank you for having heard and supported this appeal.” | “I asked you to vote for a democratic, reformist, pro-Ukrainian and pro-European majority,” he said in a statement posted on his website after polls closed. “Thank you for having heard and supported this appeal.” |
| Mr. Poroshenko said more than three-quarters of those who voted “powerfully and permanently supported Ukraine’s course toward Europe.” He called the result “a landslide vote of confidence from the people.” | Mr. Poroshenko said more than three-quarters of those who voted “powerfully and permanently supported Ukraine’s course toward Europe.” He called the result “a landslide vote of confidence from the people.” |
| The results, if confirmed by official tallies expected on Monday, would complete a transformation of the government that began in February when President Viktor F. Yanukovych fled after sustained, bloody street protests over his decision to align more closely with Russia. | The results, if confirmed by official tallies expected on Monday, would complete a transformation of the government that began in February when President Viktor F. Yanukovych fled after sustained, bloody street protests over his decision to align more closely with Russia. |
| Expanded power for pro-Western parties is certain to be cheered by the United States and its European allies, which have staked a huge political and financial bet on Ukraine’s ability to emerge from its current crisis as a stable state, and especially to be able to repay its debts. | Expanded power for pro-Western parties is certain to be cheered by the United States and its European allies, which have staked a huge political and financial bet on Ukraine’s ability to emerge from its current crisis as a stable state, and especially to be able to repay its debts. |
| The United States and European nations are also eager to end the worst violence on the Continent since the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s, and to resolve the most dangerous dispute between the West and Russia since the Cold War. That, however, is likely to hinge as much on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as on Mr. Poroshenko. | The United States and European nations are also eager to end the worst violence on the Continent since the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s, and to resolve the most dangerous dispute between the West and Russia since the Cold War. That, however, is likely to hinge as much on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as on Mr. Poroshenko. |
| An overwhelming pro-Western majority might also pose a challenge for Mr. Poroshenko as he tries to convince residents of the embattled east that their interests are also a priority in Kiev. Such skepticism is likely to be heightened because of the inability of so many residents of eastern Ukraine to participate in Sunday’s election. | An overwhelming pro-Western majority might also pose a challenge for Mr. Poroshenko as he tries to convince residents of the embattled east that their interests are also a priority in Kiev. Such skepticism is likely to be heightened because of the inability of so many residents of eastern Ukraine to participate in Sunday’s election. |
| Between the war zone and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March, as many as 10 percent of voters might have been prevented from casting ballots, international election observers said. Rebel leaders had recently boasted that they controlled many polling stations in the east, and intended to block the vote. | |
| The exit polls showed Mr. Poroshenko’s own coalition party running first in the polls but falling far short of winning a controlling majority on its own. That means he would be forced to form a coalition, most likely in partnership with People’s Front, the party led by Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk. | The exit polls showed Mr. Poroshenko’s own coalition party running first in the polls but falling far short of winning a controlling majority on its own. That means he would be forced to form a coalition, most likely in partnership with People’s Front, the party led by Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk. |
| “It’s crystal clear that we have to reset the Parliament, the government and to establish the new rules in my country,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said after casting his own ballot here in Kiev, the capital. “We strongly believe that the new government, together with the new Parliament and the president will deliver real changes.” | “It’s crystal clear that we have to reset the Parliament, the government and to establish the new rules in my country,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said after casting his own ballot here in Kiev, the capital. “We strongly believe that the new government, together with the new Parliament and the president will deliver real changes.” |
| If his party, People’s Front, posts as strong a showing as the exit polls suggest, it would increase the likelihood that Mr. Yatsenyuk would remain in the prime minister’s post in a new government. According to the Constitution, the government must resign and a new government must be chosen by the Parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada. | If his party, People’s Front, posts as strong a showing as the exit polls suggest, it would increase the likelihood that Mr. Yatsenyuk would remain in the prime minister’s post in a new government. According to the Constitution, the government must resign and a new government must be chosen by the Parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada. |
| The exit polls showed one party that is generally regarded as pro-Russian winning enough votes to clear the threshold for forming a faction in the Parliament. That party, the Opposition Bloc, includes some of Mr. Yanukovych’s former allies with strong ties to the embattled east, and it could ultimately prove crucial to future negotiations with Mr. Putin and to resolving the simmering conflict there. | The exit polls showed one party that is generally regarded as pro-Russian winning enough votes to clear the threshold for forming a faction in the Parliament. That party, the Opposition Bloc, includes some of Mr. Yanukovych’s former allies with strong ties to the embattled east, and it could ultimately prove crucial to future negotiations with Mr. Putin and to resolving the simmering conflict there. |
| The party is led by Yuri Boiko, a former deputy prime minister and energy minister under Mr. Yanukovych. Mr. Boiko also has served as energy minister and was head of the Ukrainian national energy company, Naftogaz, from 2002 to 2005, giving him extensive business dealings with Russia. | The party is led by Yuri Boiko, a former deputy prime minister and energy minister under Mr. Yanukovych. Mr. Boiko also has served as energy minister and was head of the Ukrainian national energy company, Naftogaz, from 2002 to 2005, giving him extensive business dealings with Russia. |
| The Opposition Bloc was also heavily supported by Sergiy V. Liovochkin, one of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and a former chief of staff to Mr. Poroshenko. Mr. Liovochkin had a falling out with Mr. Yanukoych over the response to the protests last fall and tried to resign. | The Opposition Bloc was also heavily supported by Sergiy V. Liovochkin, one of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and a former chief of staff to Mr. Poroshenko. Mr. Liovochkin had a falling out with Mr. Yanukoych over the response to the protests last fall and tried to resign. |
| After the polls closed, Mr. Boiko thanked voters, but called the elections “the dirtiest ever.” Ukraine has a long history of corruption and ballot fraud. | After the polls closed, Mr. Boiko thanked voters, but called the elections “the dirtiest ever.” Ukraine has a long history of corruption and ballot fraud. |
| To supporters of the uprising in Ukraine, the vote represented the chance to secure a pro-European path, fulfilling ambitions that were thwarted when Mr. Yanukovych, under Russian pressure, broke a promise to sign political and trade accords with the European Union last November. | To supporters of the uprising in Ukraine, the vote represented the chance to secure a pro-European path, fulfilling ambitions that were thwarted when Mr. Yanukovych, under Russian pressure, broke a promise to sign political and trade accords with the European Union last November. |
| Although a new president, Mr. Poroshenko, was elected in May, the membership of the legislature did not change. As a result, the Parliament still included allies of Mr. Yanukovych who had pushed through draconian laws in January aimed at stopping the protests by curtailing rights to free speech and assembly. | Although a new president, Mr. Poroshenko, was elected in May, the membership of the legislature did not change. As a result, the Parliament still included allies of Mr. Yanukovych who had pushed through draconian laws in January aimed at stopping the protests by curtailing rights to free speech and assembly. |
| To opponents of the protests, the vote was an attempt to seal an illegal overthrow of the government, with the legitimacy of the balloting further clouded by the inability of many residents of the embattled east to participate. | To opponents of the protests, the vote was an attempt to seal an illegal overthrow of the government, with the legitimacy of the balloting further clouded by the inability of many residents of the embattled east to participate. |
| International observers said the election was technically well organized in the areas of the country that remained under the control of the Ukrainian government. | International observers said the election was technically well organized in the areas of the country that remained under the control of the Ukrainian government. |
| Clearly sensitive to this, and to the government’s continuing lack of control in the war zone, Mr. Poroshenko did not appear as expected at a polling station in Kiev on Sunday morning. Instead, his wife, Maryna, appeared alone and announced that her husband had made a surprise trip to the east to observe voting there. | Clearly sensitive to this, and to the government’s continuing lack of control in the war zone, Mr. Poroshenko did not appear as expected at a polling station in Kiev on Sunday morning. Instead, his wife, Maryna, appeared alone and announced that her husband had made a surprise trip to the east to observe voting there. |
| Mr. Poroshenko visited two polling stations in the city of Kramatorsk, then returned to the capital to cast his vote, his office said. | Mr. Poroshenko visited two polling stations in the city of Kramatorsk, then returned to the capital to cast his vote, his office said. |
| There are 450 seats in the Rada. Half will be filled by candidates on party lists, with seats apportioned according to the percentage of votes each party receives in nationwide balloting. The other half will be filled by direct election in local districts. Candidates can run with a party’s endorsement or independently; once elected, they can choose to join with a party. Parties need to cross a 5 percent threshold to form a faction in the Parliament. | There are 450 seats in the Rada. Half will be filled by candidates on party lists, with seats apportioned according to the percentage of votes each party receives in nationwide balloting. The other half will be filled by direct election in local districts. Candidates can run with a party’s endorsement or independently; once elected, they can choose to join with a party. Parties need to cross a 5 percent threshold to form a faction in the Parliament. |
| In Kiev, voters seemed fatigued by the events of the last year, but many expressed hope that the parliamentary elections would open a new chapter in the country’s history, propelling Ukraine to a European future that many of them view as their destiny. | In Kiev, voters seemed fatigued by the events of the last year, but many expressed hope that the parliamentary elections would open a new chapter in the country’s history, propelling Ukraine to a European future that many of them view as their destiny. |
| Marta Yuzkiv, 44, who arrived to vote with her husband, Serhiy Chornyy, 36, and 6-year-old twin sons, said that she had voted for a new party named Self-Help, which emphasizes government reform, because she was drawn to “new faces.” | Marta Yuzkiv, 44, who arrived to vote with her husband, Serhiy Chornyy, 36, and 6-year-old twin sons, said that she had voted for a new party named Self-Help, which emphasizes government reform, because she was drawn to “new faces.” |
| “I don’t really trust that we can change the system immediately, but eventually we will do it,” she said, adding “We would like to have it quicker, because I really believe that Ukrainian people deserve better authorities.” | “I don’t really trust that we can change the system immediately, but eventually we will do it,” she said, adding “We would like to have it quicker, because I really believe that Ukrainian people deserve better authorities.” |
| Mr. Chornyy, who like his wife works as a clinical researcher, said that he had voted for the nationalist Svoboda party, as he did in 2012, because he believed it was the one truly “Ukrainian” party that would not make inappropriate compromises with Russia. | Mr. Chornyy, who like his wife works as a clinical researcher, said that he had voted for the nationalist Svoboda party, as he did in 2012, because he believed it was the one truly “Ukrainian” party that would not make inappropriate compromises with Russia. |
| Valentina I. Lukashena, 80, said that she had voted for Mr. Poroshenko’s party on the reasoning that the country had already entrusted itself to him. “Poroshenko is in power,” Ms. Lukashena said, standing with her friend Lidia K. Ivanova, 92. | Valentina I. Lukashena, 80, said that she had voted for Mr. Poroshenko’s party on the reasoning that the country had already entrusted itself to him. “Poroshenko is in power,” Ms. Lukashena said, standing with her friend Lidia K. Ivanova, 92. |
| “If you chose him, then you need to count on him and make sure so that he stays in power.” | “If you chose him, then you need to count on him and make sure so that he stays in power.” |
| Ms. Ivanova chimed in: “He is well read, educated, smart, right? What else do you need? That’s it. And we’ll see what happens.” | Ms. Ivanova chimed in: “He is well read, educated, smart, right? What else do you need? That’s it. And we’ll see what happens.” |