Yushchenko Named Ukraine President-Elect after Weeks of Turmoil

11/01/2005| IslamWeb

The end of weeks of political turmoil in Ukraine was in sight after the pro-Europe Viktor Yushchenko was officially declared the winner of a re-run presidential vote, paving the way for the inauguration of the "orange revolution" hero. "During the repeat election of December 26, Viktor Yushchenko has been elected president of Ukraine," central election commission chief Yaroslav Davydovich announced late Monday to applause and cheers at the end of a seven-hour meeting in Kiev. Monday's announcement paved the way for parliament to set a date for Yushchenko's inauguration, despite vows by his defeated rival, pro-Russian former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich, to keep up a legal challenge over the election. Yanukovich has vowed to exhaust all his avenues for appeal, in what many observers say is an attempt to boost his image as a Yushchenko adversary ahead of next year's crucial parliamentary elections. According to the final results, Yushchenko won the election with 51.99 percent of all votes cast compared with 44.20 percent received by Yanukovich, a difference of 2.27 million votes on turnout of 77.19 percent. Yushchenko's inauguration will put an end to weeks of political turmoil which flared following the now-discredited November election to choose a successor to the 10-year hardline regime of outgoing leader Leonid Kuchma in the strategic former Soviet republic. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko (R) sits next to his personal doctor Nikolai Korpan during a news conference in Vienna's Rudolfinerhaus clinic December 12, 2004. (Reuters)