Ukraine Polls: President Zelenskiy's Party Receives Majority
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party has scored some 42% in Ukraine's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results released by Ukraine's electoral body early Monday. This puts the party far ahead the competition, with pro-Kremlin Opposition Platform-For Life placing second with only 12.5% of the vote.
The results are based on over 20% of the ballots counted.
The 41-year-old comedian-turned-president has convinced voters of his Servant of the People party platform, which includes negotiating a political solution to the eastern Ukrainian conflict, boosting the economy and cracking down on corruption.
"Our main priorities — and I repeat this for every Ukrainian — are to end the war, return our prisoners and defeat the corruption that persists in Ukraine," Zelenskiy said late Sunday, responding to exit polls.
"Right now, he and his party have high ratings," Ukrainian politics expert Volodymyr Fesenko, who leads the Penta Center of Applied Political Studies, told German news agency dpa. "His party has the potential to achieve a dominating position in the new parliament."
Reaching for absolute majority
It still remains unclear whether Servant of the People will need to form a coalition with one or more parties to govern.
Nearly 200 of the 424 seats in Ukraine's parliament are filled by directly elected candidates, while the rest are voted in through party lists.
Also read: Ukraine Snap Election: Comedian Zelenskiy's Party in Prime Focus
Former President Petro Poroshenko's rebranded European Solidarity party picked up 8.7%, while former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Fatherland party garnered 8.4%.
Golos, the newly formed party of rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, won 6.3% of the vote. Other parties have apparently failed to clear the 5% barrier to enter the assembly.
Ex-entertainers eye coalition
Zelenskiy has already signalled he is willing to discuss a coalition with Vakarchuk if Servant of the People falls short of the majority in parliament.
"We invite Mr. Vakarchuk to talk," Zelenskiy said at his election headquarters.
Vakarchuk said it was "too early" to talk specifics but added that he was "ready for talks with other political forces that have the same principles as us."
Full official results are expected to be released later on Monday.
This article was originally published on Deutsche Welle.
This article went live on July twenty-second, two thousand nineteen, at twenty-three minutes past three in the afternoon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
