Zelensky still leads in polls, but Razumkov gains

Currently, 24% of decided voters would vote for
President Volodymyr Zelensky in the first round of voting, Razumkov Centre and
Democratic Initiatives Fund announced on Dec. 29. His nearest competitor is
former president Petro Poroshenko, at 16%. Former PM Yuliya Tymoshenko ranks
third, at 10% of decided voters. The poll was taken over Dec. 17-22, 2021.

The pollsters also noted that support for former
parliamentary speaker Dmytro Razumkov had risen by statistically important
amounts, to 7.0% from 5.5% since November.

Razumkov’s rise is noted further by the fact that
currently among decided voters, in a second round, Razumkov would beat Zelensky
at 56%-44%, and that compared to November, “the share of those willing to vote
for Razumkov increased from 25% to 30% of all respondents.” A Poroshenko –
Razumkov second round would go to Razumkov by a 61-39% split, while a Poroshenko-Zelensky
second round was tied.

James Hydzik: Pundits have been examining Razumkov’s support coming from the
direction of Rinat Akhmetov’s media, and the two men, attacked vociferously by
the party in power, should have common points to explore. The fact that the
poll was taken as the scandal regarding the treason charges against Poroshenko
was unfolding means that it will take another month for the numbers to reflect
opinion on the matter. However, those who see the treason charges as
politically motivated could find themselves adding to Razumkov’s tally as well.