Comedian and television presenter, Volodymyr Zelensky has won Sunday’s run-off election by a landslide to become Ukraine’s next president.
Mr. Zelensky, who challenged incumbent president Petro Poroshenko dominated the first round of voting three weeks ago when 39 candidates were on the ticket and he has so far gotten more than 70% of the votes in the re-run.
“I will never let you down. While I am not formally president yet, as a citizen of Ukraine I can tell all post-Soviet countries: ‘Look at us! Everything is possible!,” the 41-year-old Zelensky told his supporters on Sunday.
If the polls are correct, Zelensky who is best known for starring in a political satirical drama called ‘Servant of the People’ in which his character accidentally becomes Ukrainian president will be elected for a five-year term.
During his campaigns, Zelensky, who ran under a political party with the same name as his show focused on his difference to the other candidates rather than on any concrete policy ideas.
Despite his lack of political experience, he won the first round with more than 30% of the votes, almost double what Mr. Poroshenko got when he finished in second place with 15.95%.
Poroshenko has admitted defeat but told supporters gathered in Kiev, the country’s capital that he will not be quitting politics.
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Netanyahu, Gallant And Al-Masri
Russia Fires Intercontinental Missile In Ukraine Attack — Kyiv
South African Police Raid Warehouses Amid Food Poisoning Deaths
Russian Missile Strike Kills Eight, Wounds 39 In Ukraine’s Odesa Region