Zelenskiy victory all but certain, latest poll says

The latest poll has confirmed that victory for presidential
contender Volodymyr Zelenskiy is all but certain in Sunday’s second-round
runoff. The anti-establishment candidate – backed by oligarch Igor Kolomoisky –
has 72.2% support among decided voters, compared to 25.4% for President
Poroshenko, according to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute
of Sociology between Apr. 9 and 14 involving 2,004 respondents. Overall, 17.9%
of respondents said they remain undecided, according to the poll released on
Apr. 16.

More than half of those polled, or 51.3%, said the
upcoming debate between Zelenskiy and Poroshenko is not important for them in
selecting a candidate. Only 14.9% said the debate will be decisive in their
selection. After much haggling and grandstanding, the presidential candidates will
debate each other on Apr. 19 at Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.

Reducing natural gas prices for households (39.1%);
removal political immunity from MPs, judges and the president (35.5%); and
investigating the largest corruption schemes (32.4%) are the main expectations
of Ukrainians from a new president, according to the same poll. Negotiating
with Russia for a Donbas ceasefire was the four priority, with 23.3% in
support.

Zenon Zawada: Poroshenko has discredited himself, and Ukraine’s elites, to such an extent
that nothing he says at the debate will change most people’s minds in electing
an inexperienced comedian as president. Needless to say, Zelenskiy has a
monumental task in front of him. In deciding what to tackle first, he needs to
focus on issues that matter to a certain slice of the electorate that will
remain loyal to him when things go sour. Otherwise, trying to satisfy everyone
and accomplish everything all at once will leave him with no support base.