Ukrainian presidential election, March-April 2019

Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the presidential election held in Ukraine on 31 March 2019. A second round took place on 21 April.

Further information:

A total of 39 candidates held on to their bid for the office. If no candidate receives an absolute majority of the vote, a second round is conducted.

Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy took a lead in the polls ahead of the election as voters turned to the newcomer, anti-establishment candidate. He was seen as an alternative to the longstanding politicians, in particular to two other frontrunning candidates - the incumbent Petro Poroshenko and the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The campaign focused on the slow pace of the reforms undertaken in the country following the protests that led to the ousting of the Ukrainian President back in 2014.

Mr Zelenskiy eventually collected 30.2% of vote, proceeding to the second round of voting together with the runner-up Petro Poronshenko (16.6%). Following the second round, Volodymyr Zelenskiy received 73,23% of the votes, while Petro Poroshenko was supported by 24,45% of the voters. Mr Zelenskiy's inauguration was scheduled to take place in early June 2019.

Commentary and Analysis

IFES Election Guide: Ukraine http://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/223/

Wikipedia: 2019 Ukrainian presidential election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Ukrainian_presidential_election

Euro|topics, February 2019: Who will be Ukraine's next president? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/214520/

OSW: Report, 11/09/2018: Ukraine’s presidential elections, 2019 https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-report/2018-09-11/ukraines-presidential-elections-2019-main-candidates

Politico, 05/02/2019: Ukraine’s joke of an election https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-joke-election-vladimir-zelenskiy/

ISPI: Commentary, 06/02/2019: What will the 2019 Ukraine Elections Spell for the Donbas Conflict? https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/what-will-2019-ukraine-elections-spell-donbas-conflict-22149

OSW: Commentary, 28/02/2019: Serving politics. Television’s role in Ukraine’s presidential election https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2019-02-28/serving-politics-televisions-role-ukraines-presidential

Reuters, 04/03/2019: Ukraine's Tymoshenko - 'gas princess', prisoner, and next president? https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1QL0LY

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 07/03/2019: Ukraine: What Comes After the Presidential Election? https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/78529

EurActiv, 07/03/2019: Ukraine tempted by the Trump model https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/opinion/ukraine-tempted-by-the-trump-model/

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 07/03/2019: Ukraine’s Presidential Election: Key Candidates and Key Questions https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/ukraine-s-presidential-election-key-candidates-and-key-questions

Politico, 08/03/2019: Why the West loves Poroshenko again https://www.politico.eu/article/why-the-west-loves-ukraine-petro-poroshenko-again-presidential-election/

The Conversation, 12/03/2019: Ukraine presidential election: young comedian leads polls, but country’s dangerous divisions are no joke https://theconversation.com/ukraine-presidential-election-young-comedian-leads-polls-but-countrys-dangerous-divisions-are-no-joke-113397

Euronews, 14/03/2019: Ukraine presidential election: all you need to know to understand key poll https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/12/ukraine-presidential-election-all-you-need-to-know-to-understand-key-poll

The Economist, 14/03/2019: A comedian could be Ukraine’s next president https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/03/16/a-comedian-could-be-ukraines-next-president

BBC News, 19/03/2019: Ukraine election: The 'clone' candidate for president? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-47615796/ukraine-election-the-clone-candidate-for-president

Foreign Policy, 19/03/2019: Ukraine’s Poroshenko Paradox https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/03/19/ukraines-poroshenko-paradox/

The Moscow Times, 20/03/2019: Removed From Russian Influence, Ukraine Election Is Unpredictable on Its Own Terms https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/20/removed-from-russian-influence-ukraine-election-is-unpredictable-on-its-own-terms-a64889

openDemocracy: ODR, 20/03/2019: Voting hard: Ukraine braces for a fateful presidential election https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/voting-hard-ukraine-braces-fateful-presidential-election/

Carnegie EIP: Q&A, 21/03/2019: What Is at Stake in Ukraine’s Election? https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/03/21/what-is-at-stake-in-ukraine-s-election-pub-78659

Deutsche Welle, 23/03/2019: Ukraine's next president — a laughing matter? https://p.dw.com/p/3EtnF

Council on Foreign Relations: Article, 25/03/2019: Why Ukraine Might Make a TV Actor Its President https://www.cfr.org/article/why-ukraine-might-make-tv-actor-its-president

Human Rights Watch: News, 26/03/2019: Ukraine: Rights Agenda for the Next President https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/03/26/ukraine-rights-agenda-next-president

Gallup: News, 26/03/2019: Unpopular Russia Still Looms Large Over Ukraine Elections https://news.gallup.com/poll/248033/unpopular-russia-looms-large-ukraine-elections.aspx

BBC News, 27/03/2019: Ukraine election: Why comic Zelenskiy is real threat to Poroshenko https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47654242

Politico, 28/03/2019: In presidential vote, Ukraine looks east https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-presidential-vote-looks-east-vladimir-zelenskiy/

Euro|topics, March 2019: Who will lead Ukraine into the future? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/217198/

Euro|topics, April 2019: Ukraine: Zelensky or Poroshenko? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/217535/

The Economist, 04/04/2019: Europe’s other migration crisis https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/04/06/europes-other-migration-crisis

Foreign Policy, 05/04/2019: Petro Poroshenko’s Last-Minute Nationalist Makeover https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/05/petro-poroshenkos-last-minute-nationalist-makeover/

Foreign Policy, 08/04/2019: FP’s Guide to the Ukrainian Election https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/08/fps-guide-to-the-ukrainian-election/

LSE: EUROPP Blog, 08/04/2019: What Ukraine’s presidential election says about the country’s European future https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2019/04/08/what-ukraines-presidential-election-says-about-the-countrys-european-future/

ECFR: Commentary, 16/04/2019: The Zelensky enigma: A different kind of populist https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_zelensky_enigma_ukraine_election_president

Spiegel Online International, 18/04/2019: Ukraine Turns to a Comedian for Comfort https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/how-a-tv-comedian-could-become-a-viable-candidate-in-ukraine-a-1263311.html

EurActiv, 18/04/2019: EU should prevent any disruption of Ukrainian elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/opinion/eu-should-prevent-any-disruption-of-ukrainian-elections/

LSE: EUROPP Blog, 18/04/2019: Poroshenko vs Zelensky: Who will win the second round of Ukraine’s presidential election? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2019/04/18/poroshenko-vs-zelensky-who-will-win-the-second-round-of-ukraines-presidential-election/

Politico, 18/04/2019: Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s second act https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskiy-second-act-ukraine-election/

Deutsche Welle, 22/04/2019: How Volodymyr Zelenskiy beat Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine https://p.dw.com/p/3HEnJ

Deutsche Welle, 22/04/2019: Ukraine votes for fresh start with comedian https://p.dw.com/p/3HCJf

Foreign Policy, 22/04/2019: Who’s Laughing Now: Zelensky or Putin? https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/22/whos-laughing-now-in-ukraine/

The New Yorker, 22/04/2019: Can the Actor Who Ruled Ukraine on TV Do It in Real Life? https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-the-actor-who-ruled-ukraine-on-tv-do-it-in-real-life

Politico, 22/04/2019: 6 takeaways from Ukraine’s presidential vote https://www.politico.eu/article/6-takeaways-from-ukraines-presidential-vote/

The Economist, 22/04/2019: Ukraine elects Volodymyr Zelensky, TV star and political neophyte https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/04/22/ukraine-elects-volodymyr-zelensky-tv-star-and-political-neophyte

The Guardian, 23/04/2019: Comedy is a tool, a trick – Ukraine will soon see that running a country is no joke https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/23/comedy-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskiy

Euro|Topics, 23/04/2019: What can Zelensky do for Ukraine? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/218697/what-can-zelensky-do-for-ukraine

Politico, 22/04/2019: 6 takeaways from Ukraine’s presidential vote https://www.politico.eu/article/6-takeaways-from-ukraines-presidential-vote/

Carnegie EIP: Q&A, 22/04/2019: Zelenskiy’s Landslide in Ukraine: What Does It Mean? https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/04/22/zelenskiy-s-landslide-in-ukraine-what-does-it-mean-pub-78951

The Economist, 25/04/2019: A TV comedian-turned-politician wins a stunning victory in Ukraine https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/04/25/a-tv-comedian-turned-politician-wins-a-stunning-victory-in-ukraine

The Guardian, 25/04/2019: Zelenskiy’s election proves Ukraine is a healthy democracy. Putin hates that https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/25/zelenskiy-ukraine-putin-russian

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 02/05/2019: What Does Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s Victory Say About Ukraine? https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/what-does-volodymyr-zelenskyi-s-victory-say-about-ukraine

OSW: Analyses, 22/05/2019: Ukraine: inauguration of the president and dissolution of parliament https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2019-05-22/ukraine-inauguration-president-and-dissolution-parliament

OSW: Analyses, 22/05/2019: Russian scenarios: Moscow on the inauguration of President Zelensky https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2019-05-22/russian-scenarios-moscow-inauguration-president-zelensky

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News

France24, 26/02/2019: Ahead of vote, Ukraine leader under fire over Russia smuggling claims https://www.france24.com/en/20190226-ahead-vote-ukraine-leader-under-fire-over-russia-smuggling-claims

Interfax Ukraine, 26/02/2019: Poroshenko signs bill to ban Russian observers from elections in Ukraine https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/568609.html

EurActiv, 27/02/2019: Comedian takes centre stage in Ukraine’s presidential race https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/comedian-takes-center-stage-in-ukraines-presidential-race/

Reuters, 28/02/2019: Ukraine president tries to salvage corruption law as tough election looms https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1QH1XQ

Spiegel Online, 28/02/2019: Yulia Tymoshenko Attempts a Comeback http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/yulia-timoshenko-attempts-comeback-in-ukrainian-election-a-1255166.html

The Guardian, 01/03/2019: No joke: comic takes centre stage in race for Ukraine presidency https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/01/comedian-vladimir-zelenskiy-takes-centre-stage-in-ukraine-presidential-race

Reuters, 04/03/2019: Comedian Zelenskiy dashes ahead in Ukrainian presidential race https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1QL16X

Politico, 05/03/2019: Sleaze scandals stalk Ukraine campaign https://www.politico.eu/article/petro-poroshenko-yulia-tymoshenko-ukraine-sleaze-scandals-stalk-ukraine-campaign/

Reuters, 07/03/2019: For Kremlin, Ukrainian election a choice between lesser of three evils https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1QO0H5

Euronews, 09/03/2019: Ukrainian police officers injured in clash with far-right protesters at presidential event https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/09/ukrainian-police-officers-injured-in-clash-with-far-right-protesters-at-presidential-event

Deutsche Welle, 23/03/2019: Is Ukraine's presidential election threatened by fake news? https://p.dw.com/p/3FOIw

Reuters, 26/03/2019: Unpredictable election makes Ukraine's friends wary https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1R70F8

Euronews, 27/03/2019: Ukraine presidential election: how do Ukrainians feel ahead of the vote? https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/27/ukraine-presidential-election-how-do-ukrainians-feel-ahead-of-the-vote

Reuters, 27/03/2019: Comedian set to win first round of Ukraine presidential vote https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1R80KX

Deutsche Welle, 31/03/2019: Ukraine: Comedian Zelensky and incumbent Poroshenko set for runoff vote — exit poll https://p.dw.com/p/3FyfV

The New York Times, 31/03/2019: No Joke: Ukraine TV Comedian Wins Election’s First Round https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/31/world/europe/ukraine-election-comedian.html

Politico, 31/03/2019: No joke: Comedian to win first round in Ukraine’s presidential election https://www.politico.eu/article/no-joke-comedian-vladimir-zelenskiy-to-win-first-round-in-ukraines-presidential-election-against-petro-poroshenko/

BBC News, 01/04/2019: Ukraine election: Comedian leads presidential contest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47767440

The Guardian, 01/04/2019: TV comic leads first round of Ukraine's presidential election https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/31/ukrainians-vote-in-election-that-could-see-tv-comic-take-the-presidency

Reuters, 01/04/2019: Vote count confirms comic's lead in Ukraine elections https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1RD1HC

EurActiv, 01/04/2019: Not an April spoof: Comedian races ahead in Ukrainian presidential election https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/not-an-april-spoof-comedian-races-ahead-in-ukrainian-presidential-election/

BBC News, 04/04/2019: Ukraine election: Rivals agree to a stadium face-off https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47819047

The Economist, 04/04/2019: A TV comedian wins the first round of Ukraine’s presidential election https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/04/06/a-tv-comedian-wins-the-first-round-of-ukraines-presidential-election

Reuters, 05/04/2019: Comedian rips up the play book in Ukraine election success https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1RH0KE

The Guardian, 05/04/2019: Ukraine president takes up comedian's drug test challenge https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/05/ukraine-president-takes-up-comedians-drug-test-challenge

Politico, 21/04/2019: Comedian Zelenskiy wins Ukrainian presidency in landslide https://www.politico.eu/article/comedian-volodymyr-zelenskiy-set-to-win-ukraine-presidential-vote-election-exit-poll/

BBC News, 22/04/2019: Ukraine election: Comedian Zelensky wins presidency by landslide https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48007487

The Guardian, 22/04/2019: Comedian wins landslide victory in Ukrainian presidential election https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/21/zelenskiy-wins-second-round-of-ukraines-presidential-election-exit-poll

Politico, 22/04/2019: EU leaders congratulate Zelenskiy, stress need for reform in Ukraine https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-congratulate-zelenskiy-stress-need-for-reform-in-ukraine/

EUObersever, 23/04/2019: Ukraine comic-president invited to EU capitals https://euobserver.com/foreign/144714

Reuters, 23/04/2019: Zelenskiy faces battles with Ukraine's hostile parliament https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-election-parliament/zelenskiy-faces-battles-with-ukraines-hostile-parliament-idUKKCN1RZ0RC?il=0

EurActiv, 23/04/2019: Ukraine enters uncharted waters after Zelenskiy wins presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/ukraine-enters-uncharted-waters-after-zelenskiy-wins-presidency/

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Official

OSCE: ODIHR: Ukrainian Presidential Election, 31 March 2019 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/ukraine/407660

Ukraine: Central Election Commission: The election of the President of Ukraine on March 31, 2019 [in Ukrainian] https://www.cvk.gov.ua/vp_2019/

EU EEAS: Statement by the Spokesperson following the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine, 1 April 2019 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/60462/

European Council: Joint letter of President Tusk and President Juncker to Volodymyr Zelensky, President-elect of Ukraine https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/04/22/joint-letter-of-president-tusk-and-president-juncker-to-volodymyr-zelensky-president-elect-of-ukraine/

European Council, 22/04/2019: Joint letter of President Tusk and President Juncker to Volodymyr Zelensky, President-elect of Ukraine https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/04/22/joint-letter-of-president-tusk-and-president-juncker-to-volodymyr-zelensky-president-elect-of-ukraine/

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