10 facts you need to know about Ukrainian presidential pollhttp://rt.com/news/161276-ukraine-election-useful-facts/Hmm... I knew of many of those, but two escaped my radar. I am quoting them below:
Fact 1
Presidential powers were considerably reduced in favor of the parliament right after the coup in Kiev. Oligarch Petr Poroshenko is likely to win office, according to public opinion polls. But after swearing an oath he, lacking his own party in the parliament, may find himself deadlocked on governmental decisions with Batkivschina (Fatherland) Party. Batkivshchina has strong contingent of MPs and is headed by Poroshenko’s main competitor, Yulia Tymoshenko.
Fact 6
The self-proclaimed governments of Donetsk and Lugansk said they would derail the election in their respective regions. But it will be considered valid anyway by Kiev. Actually, it will be considered valid even if it takes place in one constituency only. The new authorities amended the election bill to remove the minimum turnout requirement.
So, basically, Timoshenko and her puppeteers will rule, while Poroshenko is just a face to take any eventual blame. And the result was indeed stacked up right from the start.
'Vote at gunpoint,' anyone? US keen to legitimize 'good' election in Ukrainehttp://rt.com/news/161408-us-ukraine-support-election/A team of American lawmakers is in Ukraine to observe the presidential election which Washington has called a historic milestone and provided over US$ 11.4 million to support the vote despite ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine.
US senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Benjamin Cardin (D-Maryland) arrived in Ukraine’s capital Kiev as a part of the American monitoring mission. The US team is led by former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright.
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"Throughout the last few months, the Ukrainian people have repeatedly demonstrated their desire to choose their leaders without interference and to live in a democracy where they can determine their own future free of violence and intimidation," the US president said in a statement. "This election is another important step forward in the efforts of the Ukrainian government to unify the country and reach out to all of its citizens to ensure their concerns are addressed and aspirations met."
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“That is not something that can be done with the barrel of a gun pointed at you,” President Obama and said earlier this year, at a meeting with Ukraine’s acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Kiev has unleashed the army against those in the east of Ukraine who don’t want to be under its control.
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“We are fully aware…that it will no longer be possible to hold in a normal way elections on the vast territory of Donesk and Lugansk regions,” Arsen Avakov told a media conference.
That does not change anything for the coup-imposed government in Kiev who amended the election bill to remove the minimum turnout requirement.