Ukraine Presidential Election: Volodymyr Zelensky wins in landslide run-off victory

World
Europe

03:00

In Ukraine, a man who played a president on television is now preparing to take on the role in real life. Volodymyr Zelensky defeated incumbent President Petro Poroshenko, with more than 70-percent of Sunday's run-off vote. He'll take control of a country that's facing a lot of challenges. CGTN's Natalie Carney explains.

He won by a landslide. Volodymyr Zelensky, a popular comic actor with no previous government experience, has a new role to play for the Ukrainian people. He will now be their president! Ukraine has a lot of challenges ahead. Many Ukrainians feel the military standoff with Russia in the east of the country is one of the most important issues they face.

IGOR RASMANOV KIEV RESIDENT "I think when the war stops, everything will improve. The country can't develop when there is war."

On the eve of his victory, Zelensky pledged that he would wage an 'information war' to stop the hostilities in Donbass but gave no further details.

OLEG SAAKYAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST "Sociology shows that the war is the main problem, and the president will have to give promises and make decisions that society will or will not support."

Some Ukrainians fear Zelensky's political inexperience will be no match to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

MIKOLA KIEV RESIDENT "I think he will start falling on his knees in front of Putin, telling him to take Donbass, take Crimea, just don't make war in Ukraine. This threat currently exists, that we can lose part of our country."

To address the country's long-standing corruption concerns, Zelensky says he will overhaul law enforcement and strip lawmakers and judges of legal immunity.

The country's economy is also struggling; taxes and utilities are high while salaries and pensions are low. Zelensky plans to do what is needed to maintain economic stability and stay on course with Ukraine's IMF program.

Yet, the most pressing challenge for Zelensky is the government itself.

The country's parliament is divided and without a strong coalition partner, Zelensky will face a difficult time getting changes approved.

EVGENIY TOV KIEV RESIDENT "I believe Zelensky will succeed, but I don't think he will be able to do anything before the end of the summer with this current parliament. He needs his own team to support his ideas."

Parliamentary elections take place in October, but there's no guarantee a more Zelensky favorable outcome will emerge.

OLEG SAAKYAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST "We see a generation of new Ukraine that is ready to live in an open democratic country, taking responsibility and being politically active, but there are many institutions that are still on Soviet rails."

NATALIE CARNEY UKRAINE "The overwhelming vote this weekend answered one question: the people of Ukraine want change. However, it will take a lot for the new president to prove to them that he is the man to do it. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Kiev, Ukraine."