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1 1 (February 14, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govyek0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Ukraine's Presidential Election: A Preview On March 31, 2019, Ukraine is scheduled to hold its first presidential election since 2014, the year Russia began to occupy Ukraine's Crimea region and launched a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. Because Ukraine's president shares executive power with a prime minister, the election's full political significance will depend on October 2019 parliamentary elections. The outcome of the presidential election, however, is likely to influence voter preferences in parliamentary elections. The presidential election is a competitive one. The top three candidates are incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and well-known actor-comedian Volodymyr (or Vladimir) Zelensky. For months, Tymoshenko was the frontrunner in most election polls, but some recent polls have Zelensky in the lead. Poroshenko is running third in most polls, although many observers consider the incumbent president to be a viable contender for a runoff election. Most observers believe it is unlikely any candidate will receive a majority of votes in the March 31 election, leading to a second round in April. Major themes surrounding the election include Ukraine's reform course, the fight against corruption, defense against Russian aggression, conflict resolution, and the development of Ukraine's national and spiritual identity. As in 2014, elections are unable to be held in Russian-occupied Crimea and several districts in eastern Ukraine that the government does not control. The United States and European allies support Ukraine's continued reform efforts, effective defense, territorial integrity, and resolution of the conflict. Since the onset of conflict, Congress has strongly supported Ukraine's national security and economic development, including through the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8921). For more on U.S.-Ukraine relations, see CRS Report R45008, Ukraine: Background and U.S. Policy. Top Cand dates President Petro Poroshenko Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, 53, is campaigning for a second term. It is uncertain if he will succeed. Recent polls suggest he is in third place, with the support of around 12%-13% of likely voters. If undecided voters tilt toward Poroshenko in sufficient numbers, however, the prospects for his reelection could be greater than polls suggest. Poroshenko supports Ukraine's integration with the European Union (EU) and NATO, but he is campaigning under a more nationalist slogan of Anny! Language! Faith! The slogan reflects Poroshenko's efforts to gain Updated February 14, 2019 popular support as a defender of Ukraine's national identity and interests. Poroshenko portrays himself first as Ukraine's wartime commander in chief, who has built up Ukraine's military forces and is standing firm against Russian aggression. He also has cultivated an image as a defender of Ukrainian identity, including via legislation that prioritizes the use of Ukrainian language in education, media, and government. Finally, he seeks credit for the recent recognition by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople of an independent (autocephalous) Ukrainian Orthodox Church, fully separate from the Russian Orthodox Church. Many observers contend that Poroshenko's record on economic and governance reform is mixed, however. Some consider Poroshenko's decline in popularity to be due in part to the government's failure to meet the reform expectations set by Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity (also known as the Euromaidan) and his inability to restore the country's economic health after almost five years of conflict. Some observers have expressed concern that the government will misuse official resources (such as the security apparatus, state employees, and financial resources) to benefit Poroshenko's campaign. Poroshenko initially was elected president in May 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea and as the conflict in eastern Ukraine began to unfold. He won 55% of the popular vote. His popularity was based on his promises to move Ukraine closer to the West, fight corruption, and tamp down the separatist conflict that had emerged in eastern Ukraine. Before becoming president, Poroshenko was a wealthy businessman, member of parliament, and supporter of the 2014 protests that led to the removal of Ukraine's previous president, Viktor Yanukovych. Poroshenko's holdings include the Roshen confectionary company and the Channel Five television station. Poroshenko held political office under Ukraine's two previous presidents, including as foreign minister (2009-2010) and minister of trade and economic development (2011-2012). Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko Former prime minister and member of parliament Yulia Tymoshenko, 58, positions herself like Poroshenko as a pro-Western politician. Her platform, A New Course for Ukraine: New Opportunities for Everyone, is mainly a populist one. In recent polls, Tymoshenko garnered the support of around 12%-16% of likely voters. Tymoshenko and her party, Fatherland (Batkivshchyna), have been critical of government-led economic reforms, including pension reform, increased gas prices, and land https://crsreports.congress go

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