Ukraine votes for new parliament in snap election
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Ukrainians are voting for a new parliament, eight months after the deposition of previous President Viktor Yanukovych.
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Ukrainians have taken to the polls in a snap election to elect a new parliament, eight months after previous President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s party is expected to receive the majority of the votes but he might have to form a coalition government. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s Popular Front and Yulia Tymoshenko’s Popular Front are both expected to win seats in the 450-member Ukrainian parliament. The election will not be held in areas in the east of Ukraine that are controlled by pro-Russian rebels.
Poroshenko said on Saturday that he wanted a majority in parliament that would pass pro-Europe laws, helping the country break away with its Russian past.
“Without such a majority in parliament, the President’s programme … will simply remain on paper,” he said.
A strong parliament committed to a pro-European Ukraine could place fresh strains on Ukraine’s ties with Russia, who Kyiv blames for supporting rebels in eastern Ukraine in a conflict that has killed over 3.700 people and damaged the Ukrainian economy.
Moscow-backed Yanukovych was deposed in February following months of violent street protests sparked by his decision to put ties with the European Union on hold. The protests were supported by several Western countries, including the United States, but were denounced by Russia as a coup. A month later, Russia annexed the region of Crimea and seperatists revolutions broke out in eastern Ukraine. In May, status referendums were held in Donetsk and Lugansk and separatist leaders declared that the majority of voters supported the establishment of the People’s Republic of Donetsk and Lugansk. A fragile ceasefire has been in force since September 5.
A gas-pricing dispute between Russia and Ukraine continues, despite a recent meeting between Prooshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The dispute could disrupt gas supplies to the European Union from Russia via Ukraine.