The elections in Ukraine

[dplax]

Has the loser been declared the winner?

[Azred]

Why is Colin Powell even saying anything about the Ukrainian situation? If we don't want the world sticking its nose in our voting, then we certainly cannot stick our nose in other countries' voting.

That being said, this is just another example in what I see as the future of all vote-based democratic elections which exploded in Florida 2000: the apparent loser immediately claims fraud and throws the election result process into complete chaos. The result will be that neither side believes the results of the count, the recount, or the re-recount and the cries of conspiracy will echo long past when the election is--or should be--over.

Who will be able to say who the winner really is? Will we ever really know? Not until some better system gets developed.

[johnny]

Isn't it obvious who the real winner is ? The streets are crowded with demonstrating people, and not just in the Ukraine. I can't understand why a man would even want a job like that when it's SO obvious that most people hate him. He has to be one raging maniac with nothing better to do, i can't think of anything else.

[dplax]

Ukraine high court freezes election results until appeal is considered.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Dreamer128: Foreign observers accuse Ukrainian government of electoral fraud The European Union says Sunday's run-off presidential election in Ukraine did not meet democratic standards and has asked Kiev to review the election results. The senior United States observer of the elections, Senator Richard Lugar, has accused the Ukrainian government of rigging the elections in favour of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. With more than 99 percent of the votes counted, the official results give the Russian-leaning prime minister more than 49 percent of the vote, compared to over 46 percent for his pro-Western challenger, Viktor Yushchencko. However exit polls had shown that Mr Yushchencko was in the lead. (rnw.nl)

Wow. I guess American democracy has taken root in Eastern Europe then. Sure sounds familiar.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Azred: Why is Colin Powell even saying anything about the Ukrainian situation? If we don't want the world sticking its nose in our voting, then we certainly cannot stick our nose in other countries' voting. That being said, this is just another example in what I see as the future of all vote-based democratic elections which exploded in Florida 2000: the apparent loser immediately claims fraud and throws the election result process into complete chaos. The result will be that neither side believes the results of the count, the recount, or the re-recount and the cries of conspiracy will echo long past when the election is--or should be--over. Who will be able to say who the winner really is? Will we ever really know? Not until some better system gets developed.

Yep. Which is why, if America want to be the worlds finest democracy they need to be SQUEAKY clean.

[Yorick]

So, out of interest, how many Americans have responded to this thread? How many are even aware there is an election in the Ukraine? How many even know where it is?

Yeah, I've got a bee in my bonnet.

[dplax]

The view from the other side

[Azred]

Originally posted by Yorick: So, out of interest, how many Americans have responded to this thread? At least one. How many are even aware there is an election in the Ukraine? Again, at least one. How many even know where it is? East of Slovakia, near Romania, south of Russia proper, and north of Turkey. Then turn left by the bent tree. Yeah, I've got a bee in my bonnet. You made a little birdhouse in your soul. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

[Dreamer128]

Update:

Kiev: parliament says poll invalid

Ukraine's parliament has ruled that last week's presidential election was invalid. The resolution passed by a large majority, as did a vote of no confidence in the electoral commission which declared Prime Minsiter Viktor Yanukovich the winner. The vote has no official consequences, since parliament does not have the authority to nullify the election. It does, however, carry significant political weight.

Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has not accepted the outcome and has called for a new election within two weeks. Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said today that the European Union supports a new election, preferably before the end of the year.

Opposition leaders as well as foreign observers reported widespread irregularities during Sunday's polling. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered outside the parliamentary building to voice their support for Mr Yushchenko. There is also a large demonstration in the capital in support of Mr Yanukovich.

(rnw.nl)