Yatsenyuk’s People’s Front party pulled out of the election after poor opinion poll data .Ukrainians have voted in local elections seen as a litmus test for the performance of the ruling coalition.
Elections were not held in Crimea as well as parts of Pro Russian-controlled Lugansk and Donetsk.
Voting in Mariupol meanwhile was called off reportedly due to a large amount of defective ballots.
President Poroshenko‘s Solidarity party said the polls “were aborted due to the improper preparation of election ballots, the absence of control over their printing and number, and reliable storage.”
Speaking in Kiev, Poroshenko stressed the importance of the poll and called on voters to support pro-Ukraine candidates.
“Now it is very important to form pro-Ukrainian coalitions in local councils, so that we leave no chance to the aggressor to destabilise the situation in the country. I’m confident that the Ukrainian people have enough wisdom and Ukrainian political parties have enough responsibility to form these pro-Ukrainian coalitions,” said Poroshenko after casting his ballot.
Some political analysts say a strong showing by the pro-Russian Opposition Bloc and for Yulya Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna Party could destabilise the ruling coalition with both Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk both seeing their popularity ratings nosedive.
