Latest polls show Poroshenko support strengthening

A poll released by the Razumkov Centre shows increased
support for former president Petro Poroshenko. The poll was taken over Jan.
28-31. If the presidential election were held “next Sunday”, 26.0% of voters
who were sure of their choice would vote for President Volodymyr Zelensky. A
further 24.2% would vote for former president Petro Poroshenko. Former Prime
Minister Yuliya Tymosheno placed third, at 10.3%.

The current ratings show a drop for Zelensky from
18.7% of the voters polled in October 2021 (all, not just those sure of their
vote) to 17.4%. Support for Poroshenko jumped from 12.7% of those polled to
16.2%, and that for Tymoshenko grew from 5.0% to 6.9%. Support for former head
of the parliament Dmytro Razumkov stayed steady at 5.5%.

Voter support for political parties also shifted.
Poroshenko’s European Solidarity ranks first, as support grew from 12.4% in
October 2021 to 17.5%. The rating for Zelensky’s Servant of the People party
fell from 15.0% to 12.8%.

James Hydzik: This week’s
poll shows that the government has not been able to build a successful case
against Poroshenko. His guilt or innocence is a legal matter, but the actions
of the government show an inability to act seriously on charges that usually
are considered among the most serious possible in a society.

One underreported effect, though, is that by
seizing Poroshenko’s passport and tying him up in court hearings, the
government has sidelined Poroshenko as a major actor in Ukraine’s defense.
Poroshenko has complained about the restrictions on his movements – he cannot
go to Donbas or the EU and meet delegations. In this sense, any election
campaign two years from now by Poroshenko cannot play the ‘defender of Ukraine’
card as strongly as it could were he able to run freely.