Publications Archive
Focus on Ukraine – Democracy in Progress January 19, 2010 / Mark Cunningham, Pavol Demeš
Voters in Ukraine went to the polls on Sunday to cast their ballots for the country's next president. As expected, none of the 18 candidates secured enough votes to win in the first round, necessitating a second round between the two top vote-getters: former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and current Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko. Both candidates speak of improving relations with Russia and deepening ties with the European Union and the United States.
The next president will need to work quickly to address the country's failing economy. Corruption, judicial reform, energy security, and constitutional reform are also big issues. Ukraine's institutions are in serious need of strengthening, but Ukraine has demonstrated that it can get elections right.



