Global General

Yanukovich leading in Ukraine presidential poll

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-18 21:32

KIEV: Opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich continued to lead in Ukraine's presidential election with 89 percent of the ballots counted, preliminary official results showed on Monday.

Yanukovich leading in Ukraine presidential poll

Ukrainian opposition leader and presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovich in his headquarters in Kiev. [Agencies]?

Yanukovich gained 35.42 percent of the vote, while his main challenger, incumbent Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, won 24.97 percent, according to the Central Election Commission. They are set to enter a run-off on February 7.

The results also showed that 13.03 percent voted for Sergei Tigipko, a former economy minister. His supporters are now crucial in determining the results of the second round.

The country's incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko had a total defeat in the first round, winning less than 10 percent of the vote.

Official results will be published in 10 days.

Sunday's vote was Ukraine's first presidential election since the 2004 "Orange Revolution."

Yanukovich, who draws the bulk of his support from the Russian-speaking areas of the industrial east and the south, has promised Ukrainians economic revival, new jobs, pay raises, judicial reforms and tax-free policies for small enterprises for five years.

Tymoshenko, an ally of Yushchenko in the Orange Revolution, gave priority to a fair society and government efficiency, and pledges innovation-driven economic structure reform and improvement in people's welfare. Her powerbase is in the west of the country.

Both leading candidates have pledged to mend ties with neighboring energy supplier Russia.