Top candidates neck and neck in Ukraine presidential race

Ukrainians are preparing for a presidential election that is
being seen as a watershed decision as to whether the country
should draw closer to Russia or the West.

Ukraine’s presidential election takes place on 31 October. The
main candidates for the post of president are the current Prime
Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, and his predecessor in the post,
Viktor Yushchenko. A further 23 candidates have also entered the
race. Neither the pro-Russian Yanukovich nor the “pro-reform”
Yushchenko are expected to win simple majority support in the first
election round. The run-off is scheduled for 22 November.

Yanukovich, whose platform includes promises to advance European
integration, aims primarily to deepen co-operation with Moscow and
“other states that are our traditional partners”. He has also
proposed making Russian an official language. Russian President
Vladimir Putin has strongly praised Yanukovich. He is also the
chosen heir of the country’s current president, Leonid Kuchma.

Yushchenko, described by analysts as a
moderate-liberal, claims that “I am not pro-American, I am not
pro-Russian”. His focus is economic development, including job
creation, tax cuts and a fight against corruption. 

The election campaign has been tense, with each side accusing
the other of attempting to disrupt the process. The EU has also
issued several calls for the country to ensure fair and free
elections. The country must use the vote to show that it adheres to
the values common throughout the EU and that it is prepared to put
these values in practice, said the Dutch Minister for European
Affairs, Atzo Nicolai.

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