Ukraine Votes for New President after Bruising Election Campaign

World | February 7, 2010, Sunday // 12:25|  views

Following mass rallies in an abrasive pre-election campaign, Ukrainians vote on Sunday for a new President. Photo by BGNES

Ukrainians are voting on Sunday for a new President, in an election run-off between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and rival opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych.

The run-off campaign has seen both sides accuse each other of plotting to rig the vote, with threats of street protests and demonstrations.

Voting, however, has been proceeding smoothly, according to election observers, who are expecting a larger turnout than in the first electoral round in January. They also predict a close result.

On Saturday, Tymoshenko's supporters had accused their rivals of blocking them from overseeing the vote in the eastern region of Donetsk, an opposition stronghold, and of seeking to manipulate the results.

"The main plan of the Yanukovych team for success in the election is deceit, criminal schemes and violations of citizens' rights," the prime minister's bloc said in a statement.

Tymoshenko has also threatened to lead her supporters in street demonstrations if she is defeated in the poll, saying the protests could be larger than those of the 2004 Orange Revolution.

In response, Yanukovych has hit back with allegations that some supporters of the Prime Minister had been tampering with ballots in an attempt to get votes from eastern Ukraine disqualified.

"Nobody would have thought that one of the sides in the election process would stoop to such cynicism," said Mr Yanukovych's campaign manager.

Yanukovych received some 10% more votes than Tymoshenko in the first round, and is generally tipped to win the run-off by a close margin.

A BBC correspondent suggested that many voters will decide on who to back at the very last moment, or not to vote at all, having been put off by the personal attacks by both sides, with a lack of meaningful political discussion.

Viktor Yanukovych initially thought he had won the presidential election back in 2004. But amid mass protests, the start of the so-called Orange Revolution, Ukraine's Supreme Court ruled the vote had been rigged.

At that time he clearly enjoyed the full backing of the Russian government.

But this time he has indicated he will be more pragmatic, looking both east and west, and saying he wants Ukraine to be integrated into the European Union, while seeking to maintain good relations with Russia.

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Tags: Ukraine, president, Yulia Tymoshenko, Viktor Yanukovych, Orange Revolution, Russia

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