This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29782513
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine elections: Pro-Western parties set for victory | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine's president plans to begin coalition talks after what appears to be a victory for pro-Western parties in Sunday's parliamentary elections. | Ukraine's president plans to begin coalition talks after what appears to be a victory for pro-Western parties in Sunday's parliamentary elections. |
| Early results showed Petro Poroshenko's bloc and the party of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk each taking more than 21% of the vote. | Early results showed Petro Poroshenko's bloc and the party of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk each taking more than 21% of the vote. |
| The president thanked voters for backing a "pro-European majority". | The president thanked voters for backing a "pro-European majority". |
| There was no voting in eastern areas under the control of pro-Russian separatist rebels. | There was no voting in eastern areas under the control of pro-Russian separatist rebels. |
| As a result, a number of parliamentary seats in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will remain vacant, as will those for Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March. | As a result, a number of parliamentary seats in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will remain vacant, as will those for Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March. |
| The rebels plan to hold their own elections next Sunday. | The rebels plan to hold their own elections next Sunday. |
| The legislative polls were the first since pro-Russian former President, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power in February after he refused to sign an agreement on closer ties with the European Union. | The legislative polls were the first since pro-Russian former President, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power in February after he refused to sign an agreement on closer ties with the European Union. |
| 'Path to Europe' | 'Path to Europe' |
| With 38% of ballots for party lists counted, Mr Poroshenko's bloc - comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by former boxer champion Vitali Klitschko - had 21.5% of the vote. | With 38% of ballots for party lists counted, Mr Poroshenko's bloc - comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by former boxer champion Vitali Klitschko - had 21.5% of the vote. |
| But the People's Front of the president's ally, Mr Yatseniuk, was fractionally ahead with 21.6%. | But the People's Front of the president's ally, Mr Yatseniuk, was fractionally ahead with 21.6%. |
| Self Help, based in western Ukraine, was third with 11%, followed by the Opposition Bloc, formed by allies of Mr Yanukovych and led by former Energy Minister Yuri Boiko, on 9.8%. | |
| The Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland were both polling above the 5% threshold for entry into parliament, while all other parties were so far below it, including for the first time the pro-Russian Communist Party. | The Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland were both polling above the 5% threshold for entry into parliament, while all other parties were so far below it, including for the first time the pro-Russian Communist Party. |
| The full party-list results expected later on Monday will cover only 225 of the 450 seats. | The full party-list results expected later on Monday will cover only 225 of the 450 seats. |
| Results for constituencies will not come in for a few days. Some are expected to be won by candidates from smaller parties, such as the ultra-nationalist Right Sector. | Results for constituencies will not come in for a few days. Some are expected to be won by candidates from smaller parties, such as the ultra-nationalist Right Sector. |
| "More than three-quarters of voters who took part in the polls gave strong and irreversible backing to Ukraine's path to Europe," Mr Poroshenko told a news conference. | "More than three-quarters of voters who took part in the polls gave strong and irreversible backing to Ukraine's path to Europe," Mr Poroshenko told a news conference. |
| "We must create... the best government in Ukraine because no other government will cope with the challenges that the country is facing today," he added. | "We must create... the best government in Ukraine because no other government will cope with the challenges that the country is facing today," he added. |
| Correspondents say the top three blocs are strongly pro-European and are likely to give Mr Poroshenko, who was elected in May, a strong mandate to pursue democratic and economic reforms, and seek to end the conflict in the east. | |
| Varied turnout | Varied turnout |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the result was a "victory of democracy and European reforms' agenda". | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the result was a "victory of democracy and European reforms' agenda". |
| Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin welcomed the success of parties supporting a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. | Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin welcomed the success of parties supporting a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. |
| But he also warned that "nationalistic and chauvinistic forces" in parliament could undermine peace efforts and were "extremely dangerous". | But he also warned that "nationalistic and chauvinistic forces" in parliament could undermine peace efforts and were "extremely dangerous". |
| Turnout on Sunday was more than 52%. However, it varied widely between the east and west of the country, with some three million people in separatist-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk unable to vote. | Turnout on Sunday was more than 52%. However, it varied widely between the east and west of the country, with some three million people in separatist-controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk unable to vote. |
| International observers meanwhile expressed "serious concerns" over the effect the violence in the east of the country had on the election, with some candidates being attacked. | International observers meanwhile expressed "serious concerns" over the effect the violence in the east of the country had on the election, with some candidates being attacked. |
| Anger in eastern Ukraine at the overthrow of Mr Yanukovych turned to unrest with separatists seizing government buildings and beginning an insurgency in April. | Anger in eastern Ukraine at the overthrow of Mr Yanukovych turned to unrest with separatists seizing government buildings and beginning an insurgency in April. |
| At least 3,700 people have been killed since then, 300 of them in sporadic clashes between the Ukrainian army and separatists around the city of Donetsk since a truce was agreed on 5 September. | At least 3,700 people have been killed since then, 300 of them in sporadic clashes between the Ukrainian army and separatists around the city of Donetsk since a truce was agreed on 5 September. |
| On Monday morning, a government-held military base in the Avdiivka area, on the outskirts of Donetsk, was hit by rockets. Shelling also disrupted vote counting in Volnovakha, 60km (40 miles) to the south. | On Monday morning, a government-held military base in the Avdiivka area, on the outskirts of Donetsk, was hit by rockets. Shelling also disrupted vote counting in Volnovakha, 60km (40 miles) to the south. |
| Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to the election? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to the election? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |