Ukraine

Comedian wins first round of Ukrainian election

cde.news desk 1 April 2019, 05:50 · 1 min read

epaselect epa07476971 Ukrainian showman and comedian, and Presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy reacts at a campaign headquarters following a presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine, 31 March 2019. According to initial exit polls, Volodymyr Zelensky won the first round of the Ukraine presidential election with 30.4 percent of votes. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is second with 17.8 percent of votes. If no candidate will receive more than half of the votes, the run-off elections will be held on 21 April 2019. EPA-EFE/STEPAN FRANKO

Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who plays a fictional TV president, has won the first round of Ukraine’s presidential election.

Zelenskiy, who has no political experience, won the most votes in the first round of Ukraine’s presidential elections.

The comedian’s 30.4% of the vote is short of a majority but it was enough to beat the next best candidate with incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, getting 17.8% with former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko receiving 14.2% of the vote.

With none getting more than half of the votes, the election is to go to a second round on 21 April, where Ukrainians will choose between Zelenskiy and Poroshenko.

The two – who have expressed largely pro-EU opinions – are set to take part in a run-off election next month.

Via BBC

Filed under Elections Ukraine

Topics Petro Poroshenko Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy Yulia Tymoshenko

Comedian wins first round of Ukrainian election

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