The comedian Vladimir Selensky is in the presidential election in Ukraine, according to initial results, significantly ahead of incumbent Petro Poroshenko. More than half of the votes cast were counted in the morning. The results corresponded to the forecasts of Sunday evening.
Thus, Selensky came to 30.2 percent, while Poroshenko knocked off with 16.6 percent in second place. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the electoral commission, achieved third place with 13.7 percent. Tymoshenko had questioned the outcome after the publication of the election forecasts and spoke of manipulation.
Already on Sunday evening Poroshenko described his poor performance as sobering. He understood the signal of the voters, he explained. Without an absolute majority for one of the candidates, Selensky and Poroshenko have to go to the runoff election in three weeks, on Easter Sunday.
Newcomers with little experience
Selenskij is a political career changer and in the Ukraine so far mainly known as a TV comedian. The fact that he won the first round of the presidential election reflects the people’s desire for a new start without ties to the Ukrainian political elite, which is accused of corruption. In addition, many hope for a new approach to the separatists in the east of the country.
The 41-year-old challenger had already been clearly in the lead in polls before the election. He is particularly popular with young voters and plays in the television series „Servant of the People“ a teacher who unexpectedly becomes president. Critics accuse him that even in real life he lacks political experience.
No major incidents reported
Around 30 million voters were called to make a cross on the 80 centimeter long ballot. The election Sunday was quiet. The Russian-backed renegade regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the war zone of Donbass did not participate in the election. The security arrangements in the country were high. Tens of thousands of emergency services were shut down to prevent incidents. According to the electoral commission in Kiev, the vote proceeded without major incidents.
Alleged irregularities reported
Even before the election, the Interior Ministry had reported that it had received hundreds of reports, according to which campaigners of Poroshenko and Timoshenko have offered money in return for votes for their candidates. By Sunday afternoon, according to the Interior Ministry, there were 950 complaints about irregularities in the election, including illegal polling in polling stations, vote buying and disappeared ballot papers.
The Selenskijj team complained of numerous violations just hours after the election began. Thus, for example, some names of the deceased appeared in the lists of eligible voters. Poroshenko said that the elections were free and would meet international standards.
