The Decision Has Been Made

Volodymyr Zelensky has won the presidential election in Ukraine. The country has proven its ability to make democratic choices. By Rainhard Kloucek

So, after five years of Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine is getting a new president. Volodymyr Zelensky, an actor about whom very little is politically known. He has already played the role of president in a film. Whether this is the right prerequisite for effective governance is debatable. However, the clear message of this election is: Ukrainians have proven their readiness for a democratic system.

Many Ukraine experts stated before the election: if incumbent President Petro Poroshenko makes it to the run-off, he will win. Initially, Yulia Timoshenko seemed to be Poroshenko’s main opponent. Then Zelensky emerged, won the first round by a landslide, and now evidently the second and decisive round as well.

Apparently, Ukrainians were deeply disappointed with Poroshenko. He promised a great deal. He could not end the war started by Russia. This is not his fault. This war of aggression against Ukraine will also be the major challenge for the new president. His stance on Russia is also one of the great unknowns in the future policy of the new president. Poroshenko certainly implemented reforms during his five years. However, he also massively stalled on some. Did Ukrainians expect too much? Comparisons with EU countries are certainly appropriate here. How difficult it is in this country to implement genuine and necessary reforms. Poroshenko, the chocolate oligarch, also promised to sell his company. He did not do so. On the contrary, he grew richer during his presidency.

Was the election a good decision? We do not know at present. Many of those who advocate for reforms in Ukraine sided with Zelensky. A brief look back shows that Ukrainians are quite assertive. In late 2004, the Orange Revolution began in Kyiv. Viktor Yushchenko became president; Viktor Yanukovych, who had attempted to win the election through manipulation, was defeated. Yet five years later, in a democratic election, Ukrainians chose precisely this Viktor Yanukovych as president. Yushchenko had disappointed them; he failed to make his compatriots feel that he had improved their situation. But soon Yanukovych proved to be the head of a corruption system that became too much for Ukrainians. When he then refused to sign the Association Agreement with the EU, a new rebellion against the corrupt state power began with Euromaidan. Poroshenko became the new president, elected in a democratic decision. Five years later, he has now been voted out.

Zelensky’s rather significant electoral victory – forecasts for the result speak of 70 per cent – is probably his greatest challenge. Now he must prove that he can fulfil the hopes of Ukrainians. And it will be extremely exciting to see how the parliamentary elections in October turn out. For the president is not an absolute ruler like his counterpart in Moscow. Parliament and government decide on the most important political issues.

The featured image shows the seat of the President of Ukraine.