2010 Ukrainian presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Ukraine on 17 January 2010. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a run-off election was held between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych on 7 February.

On 14 February Yanukovych was declared President-elect and winner with 48.95% of the popular vote. According to Article 104 of Ukraine's Constitution, the President had to be sworn into office within 30 days of the official declaration of the results.CEC official declaration of the 2010 Presidential election
Central Election Commission of Ukraine Parliament subsequently scheduled Yanukovych's inauguration for 25 February.Update: Yanukovych to be sworn in, rival fights on
''Kyiv Post'' (14 February 2010)

On 17 February, the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine suspended the results following an appeal by Tymoshenko. The court suspended the Central Election Commission's ruling that announced that Yanukovych won the election, but did not postpone or cancel his inauguration. On 20 February, Tymoshenko withdrew her appeal.Ukraine Prime Minister Drops Election Challenge
''The New York Times'' (20 February 2010)

Summary

Early-vote returns from the first round of the election held on 17 January showed Yanukovych in first place with 35.8% of the vote. He faced a 7 February 2010 runoff against Tymoshenko, who finished second (with 24.7% of the vote).

Analysts predicted a slight advantage for Tymoshenko in the second (and final) round as she was more likely to attract voters from the other 16 candidates who did not proceed to the second round. Yanukovych refused to hold debates with his opponent before the second round of voting, saying Tymoshenko should either take responsibility for every word as prime minister, or go to the kitchen. After all ballots were counted, the Ukrainian Central Election Commission declared that Yanukovych won the election with 48.95% of the vote compared with 45.47% for Tymoshenko.Regular elections of the President of Ukraine 17/01/2010
, Central Election Commission of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc members immediately claimed that there was systematic and large-scale vote rigging in this run-off.Ukraine election: Yanukovych urges Tymoshenko to quit
BBC News (10 February 2009)

On 10 February 2010, Yanukovych called on Tymoshenko to abandon her protests and resign as Prime Minister. On 9 February 2010, Yanukovych had stated that Borys Kolesnykov was his preferred next Prime Minister of Ukraine. According to him pre-term parliamentary elections will be imminent if the Ukrainian parliament would not work effectively. Yanukovych also stated that, as the largest faction in the parliament at the time, his party was entitled to nominate the premier. On 15 February, Yanukovych stated "I do not rule out the candidature of Tigipko (as next Prime Minister). Tigipko is on the list which, in my opinion, will be discussed next week in parliament".

On 16 February 2010, Ukraine's parliament had fixed 25 February 2010 for the inauguration of Yanukovych as president.Update: Ukraine's Yanukovych to be sworn in on Feb. 25
''Kyiv Post'' (16 February 2010) On 17 February 2010, "the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine", suspended the results of the election on Yulia Tymoshenko's appeal.
On_20_February_2010,_Tymoshenko_withdrew_her_appeal_after_"the_Higher_Administrative_Court_of_Ukraine"_rejected_her_petition_to_scrutinize_documents:
—_about_300,000_voters_who_voted_but_were_not_in_the_"Register_of_Voters_of_Ukraine";
—_about_1.3_million_voters_who_"without_right"_voted_in_their_homes;
—_about_falsification_in_the_election_in_the_eastern_regions_(Donetsk,_Luhansk,_Kharkiv_region,_Crimea,_etc.)_—_fixed_by_law-enforcement_officials.
Tymoshenko_stated,_"I_and_my_political_party_will_never_recognize_Yanukovych_as_the_legitimately_elected_president_of_Ukraine",_and_"an_honest_court_will_assess_that_Yanukovych_was_not_elected_President_of_Ukraine,_and_that_the_will_of_the_people_had_been_rigged".

_Public_opinion

Public_2010_Ukrainian_presidential_election#Opinion_polls.html" ;"title="/ref>
On 20 February 2010, Tymoshenko withdrew her appeal after "the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine" rejected her petition to scrutinize documents:

— about 300,000 voters who voted but were not in the "Register of Voters of Ukraine";

— about 1.3 million voters who "without right" voted in their homes;

— about falsification in the election in the eastern regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv region, Crimea, etc.) — fixed by law-enforcement officials.

Tymoshenko stated, "I and my political party will never recognize Yanukovych as the legitimately elected president of Ukraine", and "an honest court will assess that Yanukovych was not elected President of Ukraine, and that the will of the people had been rigged".

Public opinion

Public 2010 Ukrainian presidential election#Opinion polls">opinion polls predicted the Party of Regions and Viktor Yanukovych's win in the presidential election in February 2010. According to an article in ''Kyiv Post'' in November 2009, Yanukovych's popularity in the Donbas was fading and Donbas voters voted mainly for Yanukovych to keep Tymoshenko from power.

Background

In Ukraine, the previous two presidential first-round ballots have traditionally occurred in October.

According to the Constitution of Ukraine, regular elections of the President of Ukraine are held on the last Sunday of the last month of the fifth year of the term of authority of the President of Ukraine. In the event of pre-term termination of authority of the President of Ukraine, elections of the President of Ukraine are held within ninety days from the day of termination of the authority.

Early presidential elections can be held in case of presidential resignation, ill-health, impeachment or death.

The President of Ukraine is elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five-year term, on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage, by secret ballot.

A candidate seeking election must be a citizen of Ukraine who has attained the age of thirty-five, has the right to vote, has resided in Ukraine for the past ten years prior to the day of elections, and has command of the state language as required by Article 103 of Ukraine's Constitution.

On 1 April 2009, the Verkhovna Rada designated 25 October 2009, as the date for the first round of voting. Within a week, President Yushchenko filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court against Verkhovna Rada's 25 October date. The President's appeal argued that his inauguration on 23 January 2005, was the commencement of his five-year term of office and as such the next presidential election must be set for the last Sunday before 23 January 2010, in accordance with Article 103.

On 13 May 2009, the court ruled in Yushchenko's favor, striking out the 25 October date for the elections. On 14 May 2009, the Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych stated that the presidential elections should now be held on 17 January 2010.

On 23 June 2009, the Parliament rescheduled the date for the election for Sunday, 17 January 2010, with 399 lawmakers out of 442 lawmakers registered in the session hall voted "for" the resolution "On appointing of regular election of President of Ukraine".

Minister of Internal Affairs Yuriy Lutsenko