Monday, October 27, 2014

Ukraine crisis: Pro-Western blocs 'win Ukraine poll'


PRO-Western parties will dominate Ukraine's parliament after the first elections to the body since February's revolution, exit polls suggest.

As votes are counted, President Petro Poroshenko's bloc looks set to win the most, with PM Arseny Yatsenyuk's People's Front party a close second.

Mr Poroshenko thanked voters for supporting what he described as a call for a reformist, pro-European majority.
About 3m people in two eastern regions ravaged by conflict did not vote.

Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions plan to hold their own polls next month.
Another 1.8 million people in Crimea, annexed by Russia in March, also did not take part.

 Turnout in the election had reached more than 51% by close of polls, the central electoral commission said.
But the figures differed widely between east and west, with the highest percentage in the western Lviv region (about 70%) and the lowest in areas of Donetsk region under government control (about 30%).
Mr Poroshenko called an early poll in a bid to set Ukraine on a new path after the ousting of pro-Russian leaders.

Two exit polls published immediately after voting ended showed the president's bloc, comprising his own Solidarity Party and Udar, led by boxer Vitali Klitschko, leading with about 23%.
"Democratic elections for the Ukrainian parliament have taken place," the president tweeted. "I congratulate Ukrainians!"

Later he told supporters he would begin talks on forming a coalition which would be completed within 10 days, when final election results were expected.
"As recently as yesterday, I asked you to vote for a democratic, reform-minded, pro-Ukrainian and pro-European majority," he said.
"I thank you for hearing me and supporting my call. The constitutional majority - more than three-quarters of the people who cast votes - strongly and irreversibly supported Ukraine's course towards Europe."
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