Ukraine presidential election has three pro-EU frontrunners

Ukraine has three candidates of nearly equal popularity competing for the presidency in the May 25 elections, recent polls revealed. They are former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who amassed her personal fortune in the natural gas trade; Petro Poroshenko, who built Ukraine’s largest confectionary business; and Vitali Klitshchko, the former heavyweight boxing champion. Tymoshenko would earn 23 percent of votes, Klitschko 21 percent and Poroshenko 20 percent, according to a poll of 2,009 respondents released on March 12 that was conducted by a consortium of private and state polling agencies between March 1 and 6. These results exclude those not planning to vote and undecided voters.

Poroshenko has 21 percent support, Klitschko 15 percent and Tymoshenko 10 percent, according the Sotsis Sociological Research Center. Released on March 5, the poll surveyed 2,004 respondents between Feb. 25 and March 4. The results factored in those not planning to vote and those undecided, which accounted for 30 percent of respondents.

Zenon Zawada: The polls demonstrate that a pro-EU president is certain to emerge after May, which should be a great relief to the investment community. Even the likely Party of Regions presidential candidate, Serhiy Tihipko, is considered a liberal who supports Euro-integration. The Russian government is acting to undermine these elections.