Pro-Moscow party leads Ukraine vote

KIEV, Ukraine – Former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich appeared headed for at least a partial political comeback here, with his pro-Moscow party taking first place in a parliamentary election Sunday, according to exit polls.

Parties that supported Ukraine’s Orange Revolution against Yanukovich in 2004, however, were likely to win a majority of seats in parliament, the polls showed.

Sixteen months ago, Yanukovich lost power after massive protests – dubbed the Orange Revolution – in a bitter presidential contest marred by widespread allegations of election fraud by his government.

This time around, with the major parties and outside observers generally reporting the voting to be fair, the exit polls showed Yanukovich’s Party of the Regions likely to receive about one-third of the vote and the largest share of seats in parliament.

A bloc led by former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko did unexpectedly well and was heading for second place. The other leader of the Orange coalition, President Viktor Yushchenko, did poorly, with his party trailing in third.

Tymoshenko played a key role in bringing Yushchenko to power in 2004 by mobilizing her supporters for street protests. She then served as his first prime minister. In September, they split over allegations of corruption and differences on economic policy and the pace of changes. Tymoshenko favored radical economic moves and the president a more cautious approach.

With the election results divided, the future of this country of 47 million, which lies strategically between Russia and central Europe, will depend heavily on whether the two can restore their partnership, which favored building a market economy with democratic foundations and a European orientation.

Yushchenko’s position as president is not at stake in this election, but under recent constitutional changes his powers have been reduced, and those of the prime minister increased.

The widely watched Democratic Initiatives Foundation survey, which is sponsored by several Western embassies and foundations, showed Yanukovich’s Party of Regions receiving 32 percent of the vote. Tymoshenko’s party was receiving 23.4 percent of the vote, and Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party was at 14.5 percent, the exit poll indicated.

After casting his ballot, Yushchenko described the election as “very important in the history of Ukraine.”

“This will be the first honest and free election,” Yushchenko said. “I’m in a great mood. I’m sure that democratic elections in Ukraine are a victory in themselves.”

Former president Leonid Kuchma and others have urged Yushchenko to join a “grand coalition” with Yanukovich. Such a coalition could promote more stable economic growth, improve strained ties with Moscow and unify a country deeply divided between its Ukrainian-speaking west and Russian-speaking east, its backers say.

“Our victory will open a new page in the history of Ukraine,” Yanukovich said Sunday night. “We are ready to work together with any political party.”

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