In a move similar to how Americans voted in the 2016 American elections, Ukrainians appear to be tilting towards electing actor and comic, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the country’s next president.
With over 35 million eligible voters and 42 presidential candidates registered with the Central Election Commission, the country looks set to bring in Zelenskiy, who has no political experience, to take over from the incumbent President Petro Poroshenko.
The elections are scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 31.
According to a report from Reuters.com, recent polls carried out across the country show Zelenskiy winning the presidential seat, with the non-governmental polling organization, Rating Group, explaining that a majority of Zelenskiy’s supporters are young mobile voters between the ages of 18 -25.
The report also showed that Zelenskiy emerged as the favorite during the first round of the elections, which took place last Sunday, with Poroshenko coming in second and former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, coming third.
Ukraine appears to be tired of Poroshenko’s government, despite his role in standing up to Russia and efforts aimed at integrating Ukraine with the European Union and NATO.
Poroshenko, who was elected with about 55 percent of the total votes in 2014, has been unable to rally votes and regain his people’s support, a development that has been attributed to recent allegations of corruption among his cabinet members, as well as the increased levels of poverty in the country.
Coincidentally, Zelenskiy gained popularity for playing the lead role in a political comedy, Servant of the People, a fictional show which chronicles the day-to-day activities of a regular man, who by chance becomes president.
In his manifesto, Zelenskiy has promised to fight corruption, if elected, by introducing a bill meant to strip the Presidency, Legislature and Judiciary of the immunity their offices provide them, which hinders prosecution.
While the people seem to be behind the political novice, it is unknown just how well he is able to pull through the election and win as well as whether his tenure will be as tumultuous as his American counterpart.
