Rivals for prime minister claim victory in Ukraine

Leaders of the two main political parties in Ukraine both claimed victory on Monday in crucial parliamentary elections, but the vote appeared so tight that it could be many days before a new prime minister takes office.

Leaders of the two main political parties in Ukraine both claimed victory on Monday in crucial parliamentary elections, but the vote appeared so tight that it could be many days before a new prime minister takes office.

Supporters of Yulia V. Tymoshenko, the former prime minister who was a stalwart of the Orange Revolution of 2004, insisted that the final tally would show that she was the victor. But her chief rival, Prime Minister Viktor F. Yanukovich, dismissed those statements as premature.

With no convincing winner in Sunday`s contests, the situation remained relatively unstable, especially given Ukraine`s recent history. Close elections in the past three years have produced political stalemates, large-scale demonstrations, extended legal battles, back room maneuvering and accusations of voter fraud - all of which have left this nation ballot-weary.

Officials said late Monday night that with 93 percent of the votes counted, Mr. Yanukovich`s party had 34 percent and Ms. Tymoshenko`s had 31 percent. But those numbers could fluctuate as polling places finish  reporting.

Ms. Tymoshenko`s party said she would become prime minister again by reaching a deal with President Viktor A. Yushchenko`s party, which received 14 percent, rekindling an alliance that was triumphant in the Orange Revolution, but collapsed in acrimony later on.

But many of the areas that had not yet reported were strongholds for Mr. Yanukovich, indicating that his percentage might grow. Two or three minor parties appeared to have a chance of qualifying for Parliament, which could allow them to influence the choice of prime minister as the two main parties woo them as partners.

Associates of Ms. Tymoshenko complained Monday about the slow pace of the count in the areas loyal to Mr. Yanukovich, and they hinted of possible fraud. President Yushchenko  announced that he was ordering an investigation.

Despite the complaints about the count, the elections on Sunday appeared to have been conducted fairly, competitively and without major problems, according to foreign observers, making it unusual for a republic of the former Soviet Union. It also contrasted with the presidential election that led to the Orange Revolution, which was annulled after observers reported widespread malfeasance.

The showing of Ms. Tymoshenko was a surprise, in that opinion polls before the election had her party trailing Mr. Yanukovich`s by as many as 10 percentage points. On Sunday night she declared, "The victory of the democratic forces is final."

On Monday, Mr. Yanukovich criticized Ms. Tymoshenko for presuming that she would be prime minister, saying that she was demonstrating her "political immaturity."

"Any statement regarding a victory solely on the basis of exit poll predictions is irresponsible, unpersuasive and extremely cavalier," he said.

The third-place showing of Mr. Yushchenko`s party reflected how far his popularity had slipped since the days of the Orange Revolution, when he won the presidency over Mr. Yanukovich. Ukraine has stumbled through political turmoil since, and the public tends to hold Mr. Yushchenko responsible.

Mr. Yanukovich, whose political career was thought to be over after he lost the presidency in 2004, mounted an unexpected comeback last year with the help of an American political consultant, Paul J. Manafort. Once considered a hard-liner who favored close ties with Russia, Mr. Yanukovich has been campaigning as a reformer who wants to build relations with Europe.

Voter preferences in Ukraine have been largely based on regional divisions, with Mr. Yanukovich winning support in the Russian-speaking east and south of the country. Ms. Tymoshenko and Mr. Yushchenko are popular in the Ukrainian-speaking west.

This article was monitored by the Action Ukraine Monitoring Service for the Action Ukraine Report (AUR), Morgan Williams, SigmaBleyzer, Editor.

By Clifford J. Levy, The New York Times

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