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Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Petro Poroshenko Solidify Stances Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Petro Poroshenko Solidify Stances
(about 2 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Pro-European political parties led by President Petro O. Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections on Sunday, according to partial vote tallies.KIEV, Ukraine — Pro-European political parties led by President Petro O. Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections on Sunday, according to partial vote tallies.
The apparent victory solidifies the authority of a government that, despite firm Western backing, has been unable to suppress a violent, pro-Russian separatist movement along the country’s eastern border.The apparent victory solidifies the authority of a government that, despite firm Western backing, has been unable to suppress a violent, pro-Russian separatist movement along the country’s eastern border.
With nearly half the votes counted early Monday afternoon, Mr. Yatsenyuk’s People’s Front had 21.6 percent of votes, slightly outpacing the president’s coalition, Bloc Petro Poroshenko, which had 21.5 percent, according to the Central Election Commission.With nearly half the votes counted early Monday afternoon, Mr. Yatsenyuk’s People’s Front had 21.6 percent of votes, slightly outpacing the president’s coalition, Bloc Petro Poroshenko, which had 21.5 percent, according to the Central Election Commission.
The results of nationwide voting indicated that the makeup of the government would be largely unchanged. President Poroshenko noted in a tweet that the nationwide voting yielded a Parliament without a single Communist representative for the first time in 96 years. In most other respects, however, the makeup of the government would be largely unchanged.
On one hand, the outcome strengthens the positions of the leaders and will most likely give them the broad support in Parliament they require to push ahead urgent, and potentially painful, changes as Ukraine struggles with an economy on the brink of collapse. On one hand, the outcome strengthens the positions of the leaders and will most likely give them the broad support in Parliament they require to push ahead with urgent, and potentially painful, changes as Ukraine struggles with an economy on the brink of collapse.
The big pro-European majority also creates a challenge, however. As the pro-Western leaders try to end violence in the war-torn east, they will have to persuade people there that they, too, will be fairly represented in Kiev.The big pro-European majority also creates a challenge, however. As the pro-Western leaders try to end violence in the war-torn east, they will have to persuade people there that they, too, will be fairly represented in Kiev.
“We have tough times ahead,” Mr. Yatsenyuk acknowledged in a statement after polling stations closed on Sunday, “but together we will overcome all difficulties.”“We have tough times ahead,” Mr. Yatsenyuk acknowledged in a statement after polling stations closed on Sunday, “but together we will overcome all difficulties.”
The preliminary results reflected a stunning success for Mr. Yatsenyuk, a skilled technocrat who is respected by political colleagues in the West but who lacked sparkle on the campaign trail. His party far outperformed the predictions of public opinion surveys leading up to the vote on Sunday, and the show of muscle seemed to assure that he could keep the post of prime minister. Mr. Yatsenyuk scored a stunning success, a skilled technocrat who is respected by political colleagues in the West but who lacked sparkle on the campaign trail. His party far outperformed the predictions of public opinion surveys leading up to the vote on Sunday, and the show of muscle seemed to assure that he could keep the post of prime minister.
Even on Election Day, he had acknowledged that was uncertain and that his political future hinged on the outcome of the vote.Even on Election Day, he had acknowledged that was uncertain and that his political future hinged on the outcome of the vote.
Although Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Yatsenyuk have been close allies, first as leaders of the sustained street protests that ousted President Viktor F. Yanukovych in February and then in the government formed after the protests, they failed to reach an agreement to campaign under a single political umbrella.Although Mr. Poroshenko and Mr. Yatsenyuk have been close allies, first as leaders of the sustained street protests that ousted President Viktor F. Yanukovych in February and then in the government formed after the protests, they failed to reach an agreement to campaign under a single political umbrella.
It was only last month that Mr. Yatsenyuk formed People’s Front with the current speaker of Parliament, Oleksandr V. Turchynov. They were joined by a number of high-profile members of the cabinet, including the head of the national security council, the minister of interior and the minister of justice, who are also now likely to retain their positions.It was only last month that Mr. Yatsenyuk formed People’s Front with the current speaker of Parliament, Oleksandr V. Turchynov. They were joined by a number of high-profile members of the cabinet, including the head of the national security council, the minister of interior and the minister of justice, who are also now likely to retain their positions.
The challenge of soothing concerns in eastern Ukraine will be heightened by the fact that voting was impossible in many parts of the region, where pro-Russian rebels largely made good on their promise to block the vote. Voting also did not take place in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March. As a result, as many as 27 of the 450 seats in Parliament — 12 in Crimea and 15 in eastern Ukraine — will remain unfilled, at least initially.The challenge of soothing concerns in eastern Ukraine will be heightened by the fact that voting was impossible in many parts of the region, where pro-Russian rebels largely made good on their promise to block the vote. Voting also did not take place in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March. As a result, as many as 27 of the 450 seats in Parliament — 12 in Crimea and 15 in eastern Ukraine — will remain unfilled, at least initially.
One party that is generally, if not quite accurately, regarded as pro-Russian cleared the 5 percent threshold needed to form a faction in Parliament. The party, the Opposition Bloc, which includes many former allies of Mr. Yanukovych’s with political and business ties throughout the east, could prove crucial to any political settlement to the crisis in eastern Ukraine. It is led by Yuri Boiko, a former deputy prime minister and energy minister under Mr. Yanukovych.One party that is generally, if not quite accurately, regarded as pro-Russian cleared the 5 percent threshold needed to form a faction in Parliament. The party, the Opposition Bloc, which includes many former allies of Mr. Yanukovych’s with political and business ties throughout the east, could prove crucial to any political settlement to the crisis in eastern Ukraine. It is led by Yuri Boiko, a former deputy prime minister and energy minister under Mr. Yanukovych.
With more than 48 percent of votes counted, the Opposition Bloc had won 9.8 percent.With more than 48 percent of votes counted, the Opposition Bloc had won 9.8 percent.
Despite fears of violent efforts to disrupt the voting, the government said that there were no major incidents during Sunday’s vote. International observers gave the election high technical marks in their preliminary findings, saying the government had done a good job, at least in the areas where it controlled voting stations.Despite fears of violent efforts to disrupt the voting, the government said that there were no major incidents during Sunday’s vote. International observers gave the election high technical marks in their preliminary findings, saying the government had done a good job, at least in the areas where it controlled voting stations.
Despite the unrest in the east, the climate for campaigning was generally free and competitive, the observers said, and they praised the government for showing resilience in organizing a vote that met international standards despite the conflict.Despite the unrest in the east, the climate for campaigning was generally free and competitive, the observers said, and they praised the government for showing resilience in organizing a vote that met international standards despite the conflict.
Two other parties were certain to have sizable delegations in the Parliament: a new party called Self-Help, led by Mayor Andriy Sadovyi of Lviv, the biggest city in western Ukraine; and the populist Radical Party, led by a Oleh Lyashko, a flamboyant lawmaker known for attention-grabbing stunts including missions to capture separatists.Two other parties were certain to have sizable delegations in the Parliament: a new party called Self-Help, led by Mayor Andriy Sadovyi of Lviv, the biggest city in western Ukraine; and the populist Radical Party, led by a Oleh Lyashko, a flamboyant lawmaker known for attention-grabbing stunts including missions to capture separatists.
Self-Help, whose name could also be translated as Self-Reliance, has emphasized government overhauls. One of its leaders, Hanna Hopko, a civic activist who previously worked in public health, in recent months worked aggressively to press the previous Parliament to enact legislative changes demanded by the protesters who helped oust Mr. Yanukovych.Self-Help, whose name could also be translated as Self-Reliance, has emphasized government overhauls. One of its leaders, Hanna Hopko, a civic activist who previously worked in public health, in recent months worked aggressively to press the previous Parliament to enact legislative changes demanded by the protesters who helped oust Mr. Yanukovych.
As he arrived to cast his own ballot on Sunday, Mr. Yatsenyuk, the prime minister, seemed a bit worn down by the work of recent months. Asked how he was, he replied, “I could be better.”As he arrived to cast his own ballot on Sunday, Mr. Yatsenyuk, the prime minister, seemed a bit worn down by the work of recent months. Asked how he was, he replied, “I could be better.”
When he first accepted the position of prime minister in March, he described the move as “political suicide,” saying anyone who accepted a post in the new government was effectively a kamikaze pilot.When he first accepted the position of prime minister in March, he described the move as “political suicide,” saying anyone who accepted a post in the new government was effectively a kamikaze pilot.
Noting Mr. Yatsenyuk’s aggressive maneuvering to remain in the government, Sergii Leshchenko, a prominent journalist who on Sunday won a seat in Parliament as a candidate from Mr. Poroshenko’s party, said, “It seems he’s a kamikaze, with a good parachute.”Noting Mr. Yatsenyuk’s aggressive maneuvering to remain in the government, Sergii Leshchenko, a prominent journalist who on Sunday won a seat in Parliament as a candidate from Mr. Poroshenko’s party, said, “It seems he’s a kamikaze, with a good parachute.”