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Ukraine comedian Zelensky wins presidency in landslide
KIEV, April 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A comedian with no political experience
won a landslide victory in Ukraine’s presidential election on Sunday, drawing
congratulations from global leaders while dealing a stunning rebuke to his
country’s political establishment.
Volodymyr Zelensky, whose only previous political role was playing the
president in a TV show, trounced incumbent Petro Poroshenko by taking 73
percent of the vote, according to partial official results.
Poroshenko garnered just 24 percent, losing to the 41-year-old comedian
and actor across the country, with 42 percent of ballots counted.
It was an extraordinary outcome to a campaign that started as a joke but
struck a chord with voters frustrated by social injustice, corruption and a
war with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that has claimed some
13,000 lives.
The star of the TV series “Servant of the People” will now take the helm
of a country of 45 million people beset by challenges and having run on the
vaguest of political platforms.
“I will never let you down,” Zelensky told jubilant supporters at his
campaign headquarters where he was showered with glittering confetti.
“I can tell all post-Soviet countries: ‘Look at us! Everything is
possible!’,” he declared.
The remark appeared aimed at neighbouring Russia, where Vladimir Putin has
been in power for 20 years and many followed the Ukrainian election with keen
interest.
Congratulations poured in from Europe and beyond, with French President
Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Andrzej Duda congratulating the Ukrainian
president-elect by phone.
“You will now truly be the Servant of the People,” said British foreign
minister Jeremy Hunt on Twitter, pledging London’s support.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and President of the European
Council Donald Tusk said they looked forward to continuing support and
cooperation.
“We congratulate President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky,” the US embassy in
Ukraine said on Twitter.
MORE/FI/0805 hrs
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– ‘Democracy test’ –
On the streets of the capital Kiev, some Ukrainians expressed guarded
optimism about their new leader.
“Ukraine has passed the democracy test,” said Mykola, a 66-year-old
pensioner. “I hope it will be the people and not the elite who will live
better.”
Exit polls showed Zelensky took 87 percent of the vote in eastern Ukraine
and defeated Poroshenko even in the west, where the incumbent traditionally
enjoyed strong support.
Poroshenko, 53, said the results were clear and enough reason to “call my
opponent and congratulate him”.
“I will leave office but I want to firmly stress — I will not quit
politics,” Poroshenko said in a speech at his campaign headquarters, where
supporters clapped, cried and chanted “thank you” to the outgoing leader.
He also appealed to the international community to help safeguard
Ukraine’s pro-Western course.
“We realise that the Kremlin might be enjoying the election result,” he
said.
Observers say Ukraine’s new leader may seek to use his outsider status to
try to improve ties with Moscow.
Zelensky said he wanted to “reboot” Western-brokered peace talks that have
so far failed to end the conflict.
Moscow said the vote result showed Ukrainians wanted “change”.
– ‘Tired of lies’ –
From Ukrainian-speaking regions in the west of the country to Russian-
speaking territories in the war-torn east, many voters said they feared
uncertainty but yearned for change.
“We’re tired of all the lies,” said Marta Semenyuk, 26, who cast her
ballot for Zelensky in Kiev.
“I think it just cannot get any worse and I hope he’ll live up to his
promises,” said Larisa, an 18-year-old student from the government-held
eastern port city of Mariupol.
Zelensky supporters say only a fresh face can clean up Ukraine’s politics
and end the separatist conflict.
But others doubt the showman will be able to take on the country’s
influential oligarchs, negotiate with the likes of German Chancellor Angela
Merkel and stand up to Putin.
“People have gone mad,” Viktoriya Olomutska, a 39-year-old Poroshenko
supporter, said in Kiev. “Cinema and reality are two different things.”
Poroshenko had previously mocked his rival’s lack of political experience,
arguing he was unfit to be a wartime commander-in-chief, and the two traded
insults during the campaign.
But on Sunday the two men were respectful, with Poroshenko offering to
coach the political novice and Zelensky saying he might seek Poroshenko’s
advice.
The outgoing leader came to power after a 2014 pro-Western uprising ousted
a Kremlin-backed regime, triggering Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.
His supporters credited him with rebuilding the army and securing an
Orthodox Church independent of Russia.
But many feel the country’s ruling elite have forgotten the promises of
the revolution.
The comic shunned traditional campaign rallies and instead performed
comedy gigs and used social media to appeal to voters.
The Ukrainian president has strong powers over defence, security and
foreign policy but needs backing from parliament to push through reforms.
Poroshenko’s faction has the most seats in the current legislature and new
parliamentary polls are due in October.
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