Ukrainians electing new parliament

Voters in Ukraine went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament, overhauling a legislature in which many deputies were linked with ousted president Viktor Yanukovych.

The election is set to usher in a contingent of largely pro-Western lawmakers. President Petro Poroshenko's party has campaigned on an ambitious reform agenda and is expected to get the largest share of the vote, but there is a strong likelihood it will need to rule in a coalition.

While about 36 million people have been registered to vote, the election will not be held on the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in March, or in the eastern regions where unrest is still rumbling. Nongovernment watchdog Opora estimates about 2.8 million people in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east - more than half the potential 5 million voters there - will be unable to cast their ballots.

Tamara Shupa, a 62-year old retiree, said she hoped incoming lawmakers would put an end to the war.

"We are very tired of the war," Shupa said. "To bring about change, we need peace."

The election marks a closing chapter in the reset of Yanukovych's legacy. The former leader was deposed in February after months of sometimes violent protests sparked by his snap decision to put ties with the European Union on hold in favor of deepening trade relations with Russia.

Other parties expected to win seats in parliament include Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Popular Front and the Fatherland party of Yulia Tymoshenko. Another strong contender is firebrand nationalist Oleh Lyashko's Radical Party, which has commanded much public attention through lavish campaign spending.

The political forces with the best prospects in the vote all broadly share a pro-Western posture and have stated their ambition to promote sweeping economic reforms.

The outgoing parliament was previously dominated by Yanukovych's Party of Regions, which had its main base of support in the heavily Russian-speaking industrial east.

Some supporters of the Party of Regions are seen as likely to back the Opposition Bloc party, which includes many former Yanukovych associates. It was unclear if it will be able to overcome the 5 percent vote threshold needed to enter parliament.

Igor Seleznev, a retired 65-year old economist, said he cast his ballot for Opposition Bloc as he believes it is the only party willing to resist the emerging pro-reform consensus.

"For now, I see only change for the worse. Our standard of living is getting worse."

(China Daily 10/27/2014 page12)