Ukraine declares final election results

Ukraine’s Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on Nov. 11 the final results of the Oct. 28 parliamentary election, which includes voting for closed party lists and single-mandate districts. The ruling of Party of Regions of Ukraine gained 185 MPs, or 41% of seats. Their allies in the old parliament, the Communists, gained 32 seats. The three opposition parties will have 178 deputies between them, or 40% of seats. Independent deputies, or those belonging to small parties, gained about 50 seats through single-mandate districts. The CEC was unable to set results in five more districts and is calling for elections there

Zenon Zawada: The Party of Regions will have little trouble forming majorities to support its legislative initiatives, which require 226 votes. Besides 32 Communists, who are always willing to work with the Party of Regions, the incumbents can recruit among 50 MPs who are independent, or belong to small parties. At least 15 of them enjoy close ties to the ruling party. The bigger concern for investors is not whether the Ukrainian government can pass legislation, but whether the alleged fraud in the elections will further hamper the nation’s EU-integration efforts.