Ukrainian comedian wins presidential election by a landslide
A comedian who plays the president on television has [won the presidency] in a landslide election against the incumbent in conflict-torn Ukraine, according to exit polls.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, 41, had 73 per cent of the vote against 26 per cent for Petro Poroshenko, 53, who was elected after protests toppled a pro-Russian leader in 2014.
The story is remarkably similar to the hit show Servant of the People, where a teacher played by Mr. Zelenskiy is elected president on the strength of a viral video rant.
A lack of reform since the 2014 revolution has fuelled support for the outsider promising to fight corruption and leave after one term. Mr Zelenskiy easily won the first round of voting albeit without a majority.
But his superficial campaign of comedy shows and social media videos has offered little insight on how the political neophyte will achieve this with a parliament mostly allegiant to President Poroshenko.
“Thank you to all Ukrainians, wherever you are located. I promise I will never let you down,” Mr. Zelenskiy said in a victory speech that lasted less than three minutes. “To all citizens of post-Soviet ｃountries: Look at us. Anything is possible,” he added.
President Poroshenko congratulated his opponent on victory shortly after the polls closed, saying the election had been fair and shown Ukraine to be an “independent European ｃountry.”
The candidate previously betrayed his inexperience when he posed with his filled-in ballot on Sunday, a violation of election laws that earned him a police citation.
Now the poorest ｃountry in Europe, Ukraine and its 42 million people stand at the forefront of tensions between Russia and the West, fighting a low-level conflict with Moscow-backed separatists that continues to claim lives.
Mr. Zelenskiy has said he would meet Russian president Vladimir Putin and involve the UK and United States in new talks to solve the conflict, but also promised not to lift the economic blockade on the separatist-held areas.
Sunday’s vote ended a dirty campaign that culminated in a venomous debate at Kiev’s 70,000-seat Olympic stadium on Friday evening. … A format where the candidates asked questions of each other quickly devolved into recriminations touching on the scandals in which both have been embroiled.
Returning to central motifs of his campaign, President Poroshenko said Mr. Zelenskiy was unprepared to stand up to Vladimir Putin and suggested he was a puppet of self-exiled oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, owner of the channel that broadcasts his shows.
Mr. Zelenskiy pointed out that the president was the owner of a candy-making empire that until 2017 had a factory in Russia, accusing him of enriching his friends while in power. He repeatedly threatened to put Mr Poroshenko on trial.
The president dismissed Mr Zelenskiy’s allegations as “rubbish.”
The spectre of Mr. Kolomoisky will continue to loom over Mr. Zelenskiy as president, however.
Just days before the vote, a court ruled that the oligarch’s [Zelenskiy supporter Ihor Kolomoisky’s] PrivatBank was illegally nationalized after a $5.5 billion hole was found in its acｃounts. Any move to hand the bank back is sure to be opposed by the international monetary fund, a vital creditor for Ukraine. …
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Article Source: https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/world-1-ukrainian-comedian-wins-presidential-election-by-a-landslide/
Vocabulary:
1. incumbent / adjective : holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently:
2. reform / noun :
the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.:
3. albeit / conjunction : although; even if:
4. neophyte / noun : a beginner or novice:
5. blockade / noun : the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships ortroops to prevent entrance or exit.
6. culminate / verb : to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development (usually followed by in).
7. motif / noun : a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.
Questions:
1. list the who, what, where and when of the news item
2. By what percentage did Volodymyr Zelenskiy beat President Poroshenko?
3. What promises did Mr. Zelenskiy make prior to the election?
4. In Friday’s debate prior to the election, each candidate questioned the other and pointed out possible conflicts of interest the other has. What are they?
5. What do you think? Can a comedian succeed as president? Will others control his administration (and he will just be the figurehead)? Or – as President Poroshenko accused – as a puppet of Ukranian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky?
