Opposition leader Yanukovych wins Ukraine presidential vote
Source: Agencies |
February 9, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OPPOSITION leader Viktor Yanukovych emerged as the apparent winner in Ukraine's presidential contest yesterday, holding onto a lead of almost 3 percentage points with about 99 percent of ballots counted.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has accused her opponent of election fraud, was under increasing pressure to concede after international vote monitors yesterday called the ballot "professional, transparent and honest."
A Yanukovych victory would close a chapter in the country's political history by ousting the pro-Western leadership of the past five years, which foundered due to internal divisions and the collapse of the economy.
Central Election Commission data showed Yanukovych garnering 48.7 percent to Tymoshenko's 45.7 percent, with 1 percent of ballots remaining to be counted. More than 4 percent of voters cast ballots marked "against all," a signal of the widespread disaffection among voters.
Yanukovych has claimed victory and his team kicked off festivities by calling on the prime minister to admit defeat.
"She should remember her own democratic slogans and recognize the results of the elections," said Anna German, deputy chairwoman of Yanukovych's Party of Regions.
Around 5,000 Yanukovych supporters assembled yesterday morning near a stage in Kiev adorned with the slogan "Ukrainians for a Fair Election," claiming to defend the results of the election.
Supporters danced in heavy winter coats in front of the Central Election Commission as a series of daylong concerts got under way, despite frigid temperatures and flurries of snow. Hundreds waved Yanukovych's signature blue campaign pennants and some draped flags over their shoulders.
There was no word from Tymoshenko by yesterday afternoon, and her evening press conference was postponed until today at the last minute.
Yanukovych's deputies insisted that Tymoshenko would be forced out of government.
"It's time for her to prepare her departure," said Boris Kolesnikov, deputy chairman of the Regions' Party.
Tymoshenko and outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko fell out after leading the Orange Revolution protests in 2004, and the bad blood between them has caused political gridlock in recent years and deepened Ukraine's economic malaise. Most voters are now keen to see a united leadership take power.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe yesterday hailed the presidential vote as free and fair. Most of their criticism targeted Tymoshenko, who they said had misused her powers as prime minister to advance her campaign.
It called the ballot an impressive display of democratic elections and a victory for the people of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has accused her opponent of election fraud, was under increasing pressure to concede after international vote monitors yesterday called the ballot "professional, transparent and honest."
A Yanukovych victory would close a chapter in the country's political history by ousting the pro-Western leadership of the past five years, which foundered due to internal divisions and the collapse of the economy.
Central Election Commission data showed Yanukovych garnering 48.7 percent to Tymoshenko's 45.7 percent, with 1 percent of ballots remaining to be counted. More than 4 percent of voters cast ballots marked "against all," a signal of the widespread disaffection among voters.
Yanukovych has claimed victory and his team kicked off festivities by calling on the prime minister to admit defeat.
"She should remember her own democratic slogans and recognize the results of the elections," said Anna German, deputy chairwoman of Yanukovych's Party of Regions.
Around 5,000 Yanukovych supporters assembled yesterday morning near a stage in Kiev adorned with the slogan "Ukrainians for a Fair Election," claiming to defend the results of the election.
Supporters danced in heavy winter coats in front of the Central Election Commission as a series of daylong concerts got under way, despite frigid temperatures and flurries of snow. Hundreds waved Yanukovych's signature blue campaign pennants and some draped flags over their shoulders.
There was no word from Tymoshenko by yesterday afternoon, and her evening press conference was postponed until today at the last minute.
Yanukovych's deputies insisted that Tymoshenko would be forced out of government.
"It's time for her to prepare her departure," said Boris Kolesnikov, deputy chairman of the Regions' Party.
Tymoshenko and outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko fell out after leading the Orange Revolution protests in 2004, and the bad blood between them has caused political gridlock in recent years and deepened Ukraine's economic malaise. Most voters are now keen to see a united leadership take power.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe yesterday hailed the presidential vote as free and fair. Most of their criticism targeted Tymoshenko, who they said had misused her powers as prime minister to advance her campaign.
It called the ballot an impressive display of democratic elections and a victory for the people of Ukraine.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
