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 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Ukraine elections: Pro-Western parties set for victory | Ukraine elections: Pro-Western parties set for victory |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukraine's president and prime minister are set to publish a draft coalition agreement, after an apparently sweeping victory for pro-Western parties in Sunday's parliamentary elections. | Ukraine's president and prime minister are set to publish a draft coalition agreement, after an apparently sweeping victory for pro-Western parties in Sunday's parliamentary elections. |
With half the vote counted, President Petro Poroshenko's bloc and the party of Arseniy Yatseniuk were neck-and-neck with more than 21% of the vote each. | With half the vote counted, President Petro Poroshenko's bloc and the party of Arseniy Yatseniuk were neck-and-neck with more than 21% of the vote each. |
Both men said they expected other parties to join their coalition talks. | Both men said they expected other parties to join their coalition talks. |
There was no voting in eastern areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists. | There was no voting in eastern areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists. |
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 separatist rebels plan to hold their own elections next Sunday. | The separatist 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 50.08% of ballots for party lists counted, Mr Poroshenko's bloc - comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko - had 21.45% of the vote. | With 50.08% of ballots for party lists counted, Mr Poroshenko's bloc - comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko - had 21.45% of the vote. |
But the People's Front of the president's ally, Mr Yatseniuk, was fractionally ahead with 21.61%. | But the People's Front of the president's ally, Mr Yatseniuk, was fractionally ahead with 21.61%. |
Self Help, based in western Ukraine and led by Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi, was third with 11.1%, followed by the Opposition Bloc of Mr Yanukovych's former Energy Minister Yuri Boiko on 9.82%. | Self Help, based in western Ukraine and led by Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi, was third with 11.1%, followed by the Opposition Bloc of Mr Yanukovych's former Energy Minister Yuri Boiko on 9.82%. |
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev | Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev |
If results hold, Ukraine's parliamentary elections could potentially spell an electoral earthquake - a second revolution, only one that has taken place at the ballot box. | If results hold, Ukraine's parliamentary elections could potentially spell an electoral earthquake - a second revolution, only one that has taken place at the ballot box. |
For the first time in country's history, a broad pro-European, pro-reform coalition seems to be in the makings. | For the first time in country's history, a broad pro-European, pro-reform coalition seems to be in the makings. |
Just as significantly, two groupings that have long dominated the political landscape appear to have been considerably weakened - the Communist Party, which for the first time may not enter parliament, and the remnants of the Party of Regions, which look set to have a much smaller role in the new legislature. | Just as significantly, two groupings that have long dominated the political landscape appear to have been considerably weakened - the Communist Party, which for the first time may not enter parliament, and the remnants of the Party of Regions, which look set to have a much smaller role in the new legislature. |
In the end, President Poroshenko may enjoy a two-thirds "super majority", with which he will be able to enact his long-promised reform programme with little resistance. | In the end, President Poroshenko may enjoy a two-thirds "super majority", with which he will be able to enact his long-promised reform programme with little resistance. |
The question, then, will be what Mr Poroshenko would manage to do should such power be delivered to him. | The question, then, will be what Mr Poroshenko would manage to do should such power be delivered to him. |
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. | 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. |
'Daunting challenges' | |
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the result was a "victory of democracy" and a pro-European 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. |
More than 900 observers from 43 countries monitored the polls. | |
As polls opened, the head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission, Swedish MP Kent Harstedt, expressed concerns about the effect of the violence in the east. | |
But on Monday, Mr Harstedt declared that Ukraine's institutions and voters had "responded to daunting challenges with an election that largely upheld democratic commitments". | |
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. |