After his clear victory in the run-off election for president, Volodymyr Selenskyj makes himself scarce. It is working on first bills, it said from his team. He does not want to name anything yet.
Ironically, a political freshman, a comedian, and an actor can boast the best election result a president ever has in Ukraine. Volodymyr Selenskyj received 73 percent of the vote, leaving incumbent Petro Poroshenko, who came to around 24 percent, far behind.
The fact that Poroshenko conceded his defeat shortly after the polls closed, congratulated Selenskyj and offered him support during the transitional period, even forced respect for his critics.
Praise from the election observers
There was also praise from international election observers. In particular, the head of the OSCE Observer Mission, George Tsereteli, said: „The democratic handover of power that we saw yesterday is a great achievement of the Ukrainian people.“ The elections were pluralistic, the OSCE said. Basic freedoms had been respected.
„We are positive about the election day and it was peaceful, with a turnout of just over 62 percent, which is quite high,“ said Tsereteli. It should be taken into account the difficult situation in which Ukraine is – not least with regard to the armed conflict in the southeast of the country.
Selenskyj wants permanent ceasefire
To pacify this conflict, the future president has taken up the cause. He wants to restart the Minsk peace process and achieve a lasting ceasefire. How, that he left open so far.
Selenskyj made himself scarce the day after the runoff election. His election staff said that they were in the process of drafting programs and initial bills.
No names are yet mentioned
The trained lawyer had announced that he wanted to break new ground. He wants to fill new posts in administration, justice and army. Also to break old power structures that are considered in parts as corrupt.
So far, Selenskyj said nothing about who could take over office: „At the moment I simply have no right to give the names of these people, so we agreed with the generals, which is all a serious story.“ And still, Selenskyj emphasized, he was not in office.
„Neither an extremist nor a keen nationalist
The Ukrainians, but also the EU, NATO and Russia have no choice but to continue to wait. You have to wait and see what steps the newly elected president will take first.
Rebekka Harms, who was watching the election as a representative of the European Parliament, is cautiously optimistic: „I dare say that Mr Selenskyj is neither an extremist nor a keen nationalist.“ This fuels the hope that Ukraine will continue on its course.
Passing of the office by 3 June at the latest
Anyway, President Poroshenko wants to work for that. He announced that he would be leaving office in the month ahead, but not politics. According to the Central Electoral Commission, the transfer of office must take place no later than 3 June.
