Ukraine votes to overhaul parliament By PETER LEONARD KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Voters in Ukraine headed to the polls Sunday to elect a new parliament, overhauling a legislature tainted by its association with ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. The election is set to usher in a contingent of largely pro-Western lawmakers. President Petro Poroshenkos party has campaigned on an ambitious reform agenda and is expected to get the largest share of the vote, but there is a strong likelihood it will need to rule in a coalition. While around 36 million people have been registered to vote, the election will not be held on the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in March, or in the eastern regions where unrest is still rumbling and armed pro-Russia separatist rebels have taken firm hold. Nongovernment watchdog Opora estimates some 2.8 million people in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east – more than half the potential 5 million voters there – will be unable to cast their ballot. Tamara Shupa, a 62-year old retiree, said she hoped incoming lawmakers would put an end to the war. “We are very tired of the war,” Shupa said. “To bring about change, we need peace.” The election marks a [...] newsinmi/ukraine-votes-to-overhaul-parliament/
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:05:07 +0000
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