Pro-Russian opposition heads to electoral victory in Ukraine

Exit polls suggest that the pro-Russian opposition has won the Ukraine’s first parliamentary elections since the Orange Revolution of 2004.

Ukraine is heading for a not so easy cohabitation between the two men who were the main rivals in the Orange Revolution of late 2004 and early 2005. The first exit polls of the parliamentary elections held on 26 March 2006 suggest that the former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich’s Party of Regions is set win 25-33% of the votes, meaning he could take back his post. 

Yulia Tymoshenko’s Bloc is set to get around 21-23% of the votes meaning Ms Tymoshenko could impose herself in the government as well. 

President Viktor Yushchenko’s Peoples’s Union Our Ukraine, comes in at third place with only 13-17% of the votes. If confirmed, these results would mean a humiliating defeat for the pro-Western leader, who is a strong supporter of the country’s EU membership by 2015. 

The official results should be released by 31 March 2006.

Read more with Euractiv

Ukraine to hold watershed elections

With the memory of the Orange Revolution slowly fading away, Ukrainians will on 26 March hold parliamentary elections to decide whether the country should turn toward Europe or Russia.