The preliminary turnout in Lviv oblast, although tallying with Ukraine’s general trend, struck one by its unanimity. The electorate showed more activity compared to the first round. Moreover, in some precincts, save for defective ballots, Leonid Kuchma stood every chance of scoring 100 percent, reports The Day’s Oleh Syrtsov. Tentative information points to 92% of the oblast’s residents taking part in the elections and voting for the current President, with only 5% taking the Red side with Petro Symonenko. The Day asked people representing different political forces to comment on this unanimous support of Mr. Kuchma and on what to expect next.
Oleksandr HOLUB, People’s Deputy and first secretary of Lviv oblast CPU committee:
We did forecast our 5% turnout. At the same time, elections all over Lviv oblast may be safely assumed as falsified. I do not doubt the trend, I mean Leonid Kuchma’s victory in this region. It was understandable and to be expected. Yet in many cases we were surprised by the electorate’s heightened activity. This would be natural except for the fact that large number of the residents are now beyond the oblast’s borders. The President collected especially many votes in precincts where we did not have our observers. In Zhovkva, for example, our observers were barred entry. We managed to record two cases of election committee members slipping stacks of ballots through the slots. In addition, there was undisguised campaigning on election day (illegal under Ukrainian law —Ed.). Specifically by Vasyl Baziv, deputy head of the oblast state administration, appearing on radio and television. And the same happened in churches. That is why we will contest the election returns in most electoral districts of this oblast with the Central Election Committee and if need be in the Supreme Court.
Ivan HUBKA, head of Lviv oblast organization of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists:
I thank God for this outcome, and for similar voter sentiments in Donetsk oblast. It means the process of national unification has begun, that our fellow citizens want this state to move toward Europe. The elections results prove that the Communist Party is no longer supported by ethnic minorities. Frankly, the turnout was nothing unexpected for me personally. Now it is important not to fall prey to victory euphoria. We need sober and well balanced decisions in order to avoid financial and energy crises this winter. The next two or three weeks will be marked by active consultations concerning the future government. In fact, the 2002 parliamentary campaign started November 15. Now the Rightist parties have to determine their course.
Petro ZHUK, sociologist and director, Center for Territorial Information Problems, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences:
I can foresee four ways in which events could unfold. The first is the most optimistic, yet its probability is about one percent. Leonid Kuchma realizes he should serve the Ukrainian people and the Right unites. The second scenario, rated at some 35%, sees a hard-line group get the upper hand in the President’s entourage, taking a severe stand toward Parliament. This group is Russia-affiliated and then we will have the Lukashenka brand of democracy, provoking dissolution of Verkhovna Rada and a referendum. I think the third scenario most likely, retaining the status quo. The trouble is that Mr. Kuchma is used to having various groups fighting to win him over. If this be the case, the situation will have both positive and negative aspects. Of course, we will have more democracy, but economically speaking, this option is very dicey. Finally, the fourth scenario, with Right forces gaining access to the President’s entourage, ones interested in a pro-Western reform policy. This process would be facilitated by the presence of strong business groups anxious to cooperate with the West. At the same time, the Ukrainian Right are very heterogeneous and this complicates playing out the fourth scenario.






