Ukrainians will elect new parliament on Sunday

Ukrainian citizens who hold the right to vote are expected on Sunday at polling stations to elect a new Supreme Rada. The March 26 scrutiny in Ukraine is the one held in compliance with the new Constitution of this country adopted in 2005. It introduces the parliamentary system instead of semi-presidential system. Also, the parliamentary scrutiny is organised 100 percent in line with the proportional system for the first time and all 450 seats in the Supreme Rada are elected on one national list. The threshold for succession to the parliament is 3 percent. Survey show that six parties or alliances hold chances to succeed to the parliament, predicting that none of them will hold an absolute majority. The main parties and electoral blocks are: Our Ukraine (supported particularly in the centre of country), an alliance of pro-Yushchenko parties, Party of Regions (east), which support a pro-Moscow policy, Yulia Timoshenko Bloc (west), which brings together nationalist groups, People’s Bloc, Socialist Party and Communist Party. Politicians, show business stars, music stars, known athletes, judges and even persons with criminal records will compete for seats of lawmakers, according to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. Hundreds of observers from different countries, including Moldova, will monitor the elections. A delegation from the Central Election Commission headed by Eugeniu Stirbu will visit the Ukrainian capital of Kiev for this purpose on March 25-27.