Ukraine election 2019: A presidential campaign for the books | DW News

Voters in Ukraine go to the polls on Sunday to choose their next president. After a first-round vote at the end of March, the two remaining candidates are Volodymyr Zelensky, comedian and television star, or Petro Poroshenko, incumbent president. Zelensky is the frontrunner after winning the first ballot with more than 30percent of the vote. He has no political experience and has put forward very few policy proposals. But his willingness to speak both Ukrainian and Russian has brought him a lot of support in the country's mainly Russian-speaking east. Petro Poroshenko is a businessman from the confectionary industry and one of Ukraine's wealthiest people. He was elected in a snap vote after former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was toppled in the 2014 Maidan Revolution. His reputation as a reformer has been damaged as corruption remains a big problem in Ukraine.

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[ericvansteenlandt]

Jabe dabe doe ... a new messiah is born. His boss lives in the U.S. and his followers gave him a standing ovation of over a minute and a half !! The future couldn't look brighter!!

[alexbork]

The real funny thing is they are checking blood which contains cocaine 1-2 days at max. They have ability to check hair (it provides information about last several months), but for some weird reason they done blood test 🤣

[boostyourselfesteem]

If democracy reallt worked, recall would be mandatory.

[doomsday]

Now pay the price for voting a oligarch's dog.
It was so "unusual" for a a bunch of reasons, perfect puppet.

[olaviehrstein]

Good luck and success, Mr President. Truly elected by the people and without any corruption. Finally, Mr.. President. Direct and straight shooter. President for all Ukrainan people ! Well done Ukraine !!

[civitasincivibusest]

Ja!Ja!Ja! ¡Se le acabó la patochada a los gringos! Ahora, Ucrania, libre del títere de Washington, podrá recuperar su libertad, volver a construir una relación constructiva con Rusia y mandar a prision a Poroshenko. Washington ya no podrá poner militares, ni sistemas de defensa en Ucrania, ni seguir tratando a Ucrania como una colonia. Viva Ucrania! Y viva Rusia! Abajo Estados Unidos!

[Alexanderdnepr]

Zelensky is a showman, he summoned Poroshenko to a debate on his territory. Zelensky asked him the questions that they collected from the Ukrainians for 3 weeks. For example, why the country gets poorer and the President gets richer, why nobody answered for the murders on the Maidan, why nobody answered for the bloody mistakes during the war near Ilovaisk and Debaltseve, why Poroshenko did not sell his business, why his entourage steals on defense orders and no one imprisoned. Poroshenko did not fulfill promises, but only increased his condition. I hope that Zelensky will fulfill his threats and put Poroshenko in prison for the rest of his life. I am from Ukraine, a lot of things look different here than from Europe.

[ev]

For those who ask why in Ukraine choose a "clown". The whole situation in my country (Ukraine) is damn complicated. You have no idea how much our government steals from us, every president is like "don't worry, I'll fix it, our country will be powerful and independent again! I'll make everything for our country I promise" so what, the years pass, and nothing changes. Try to live, it would be more correct to say try to survive on the 200$ salary(depends on occupation). And you becoming so freaking out by our government and president so you're ready to go and kill them by yourself because everything they do - they lie and promise, that's all. They're sit in their armchairs pretending doing something but everything they can do is lie and steal. They lie and steal TO MAKE ONLY THEIR OWN LIVES! NOT people's lives. That's why Zelenskiy is our new hope. Our hope for better future.

[vantran-iwib]

Why Ukraine vote a clown to be presented?

[andyselleman]

yeah, he said he will run his presidency just like his TV show. But do you know where he gets his information from on his TV show? Someone else writes a script and he reads it and at the end of the day, everything is perfect. Do you really believe that will work in the real world? I surely hope and pray you are not that gullible?

[gektorps]

President Petro Poroshenko and V. Zelensky .Vladimir Putin will break your collarbones and ribs in advance.Later.Russia and the criminal code will trade and build business. Vova got scared .You can break a bone Poroshenko and Vladimir Zelensky. Wait for injuries.The oligarchs will pay.Business will substitute the regime of the criminal code. Psychics will tell Vova what and where to break the candidates.Exact time.Debate about saving Japan in 2011.Beforehand.Who should pay the damage.$ 20 billion.Russia or Japan.

[happydeathtv]

Big part of ukrainians don't believe to politicans anymore. We have same corrupted politicans under rule of president and oligarchs all the time.... these guys're just like on the tea table in the Alice in Wonderland - moving from one party to another each time we change our government (oligarchs control ukrainian economic, tv channels etc...it's really hard to trust someone O. o our parlament is full of their puppets)... even present president Petro Poroshenko is an oligarch who lied to his own people! he told us that he will be the guy who change the system but he didn't! besides he makes money on war with his friends and under his rule Ukraine became the most corrupted and poorest country in the Europe...That's why ukrainian people are voting for famous comedian actor who made himself and never have been in politics before.... he gave us hope to break the system with his team of young guys and girls who have never been in politics before.... we're hoping they will break the system of total corruption

[adrianelias]

I feel that the comedian can unite Ukraine since he gets support even from Russians living in Ukraine. I voted for Donald Trump who also had no prior political experience and I think he's doing a great job (only Democrats will look for negative things to say). Remember that the president listens to other politicians and experts before making a policy or decision. A person without political experience can make a good leader. I believe that.

[andyselleman]

I only repeat what Zelensky said during the debate

[drtonyhaworth]

There was no debate it was a farce not one minute of substance from either runners but at least the president had been president not some clown

[stream]

Wrong information. You people cant talk about our country without knowing what is going inside. Wrong lie interprietion about Ukraine. You lier .why u saying a this lies

[AS-cgxx]

Good try to throw your support for Zelenskiy.

But even in the last hours, Zelenskiy still has not said one (not even 1 ) thing that he would do as President. But as we heard tonight in the debate - TWO comments by Zelenskiy stood out. 1) Zelenskiy said that he has already knelt before Putin and he believes that this is the way to approach Putin ; and 2) near the end of the debate when he said Healthcare is not sufficient: Zelenskiy said "I have nothing to say"!

Zelenskiy finally spoke the truth: he has nothing to say because he knows nothing about being a real President!

And finally tonight in Moscow - Putin is celebrating and popping Champagne bottles and shouting "VICTORY" over Ukraine!

And after watching Zelenskiy's demeanor during the debate, I will guarantee the end of Ukraine's sovereignty for all of time and Putin's newest Territory if Zelenskiy becomes President .

One more thought about something Zelenskiy said: Zelenskiy spoke to the people and said that he is only running for ONE TERM. He said "in 5 years Ukraine will have another President".
Therefore Zelenskiy wants only to say he has the Title of a real President, but he seems not to care about Ukraine and is foolish enough to think that Ukraine can survive for 5 years without a real leader.

Now that is foolish! Ukraine will be lost because some dumb fool known as Zelenskiy wants to be President for one term.

Now is not the time to give a comedian actor a chance to call himself a President. I believe that it is Zelenskiy's ploy to be able to proclaim that as a TV actor-he is also a real President (in name only).

By Zelenskiy's own words as he spoke during the debate, if Ukraine is to survive, everyone and I mean everyone (every Ukrainian on Earth) must vote for President Poroshenko!

Слава Україні! When you approach your turn to vote - think not about the candidates, think about your children and the youth of Ukraine. What will they think. Vote to Save Ukraine for the youth of Ukraine. Слава Україні!

[arthurdont]

Corruption? didn't Germany with EU and US organize a coup in Kiev in 2014 to get rid of corruption and make Ukraine Great Again? or was it just a plan to turn Ukraine into a new NATO base and use Crimea to control Black Sea and deprive Russia from using its Navy there? Wasn't maidan organized against previous president's corruption? Looks like the revolution was just a tool to replace one corrupted president with another. That's why Poroshenko has no chance to win this election, people will choose a anybody but not Poroshenko.

[sopadurso]

A candidate with no plan, that refuses to debate his goals.

[teodortheentertainer]

There was once a spelling mistake on Wikipedia that Ukraine belong to the Continent of Africa. But i would love Ukraine to be in Africa.