Election in Ukraine: High level of participation, three favorites

safety precautions is to run the presidential election in Ukraine. After a hard election campaign, a participation - and the first allegations of manipulation.

In the case of the presidential election in Ukraine prevails according to official data, a lot of participation. Till 15.00 o'clock local time, the country would have tuned around 45 percent of the voters, said the election. You spoke of a largely trouble-free Start of the vote in the approximately 30,000 polling stations. Tens of thousands of forces across the country ensured a quiet expiration.

In the last vote in 2014, the turnout was at the same time at around 40 percent. The polling stations will close at 20 PM local time (19.00 GMT), shortly after the first information on post-election surveys are to be expected.

tens of thousands of security forces to guarantee a proper functioning.

The extra-long ballots prepared some voters problems.

Three candidates with opportunities

In choosing a defeat threatens the incumbent, Petro Poroshenko. In surveys, the political newcomer and actor Vladimir Selenskij led. The Ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, came again and again on the second or third place. In total, around 30 million choice can be justified in a field of 39 candidates to the vote.

A runoff election among the two voice is the strongest to take place in a few weeks, if none of the candidates can claim a clear majority.

allegations of Manipulation

The Team of Selenskij complained already a few hours after the start of voting on a large number of violations. Accordingly, some of the names of deceased showed up, for example, in the lists of eligible voters. An independent or official confirmation of the allegations, it was not so far.

Vladimir Selenskij: actor, Comedian, writer and actor - and, soon, Präsdident?

All three favourites are oriented to the West

Poroshenko has a squad under a great deal of Security from his wife, his children and a grandson. At the time of voting, he swore to the voters on a Pro-Western course. "This election is an absolute prerequisite for our movement forward, our membership in EU and NATO," he said. It is a fate choice for him. Poroshenko had already raised several times the idea of a referendum for the accession to NATO and the EU.

Tymoshenko stressed at the polling station, according to IMF statistics, the poorest country in Europe should aspire to the West. "We need to go a step forward towards a more successful, prosperous, European Ukraine," she said.

President Petro Poroshenko has to fear for his office.

politics newcomer as an unknown size

Selenskij showed up at the voting in Kiev in a good mood. He looked through the high candidate density, that the democracy in the Ex-Soviet working Republic, he said. "We are a democratic country. The more candidates, the better. That means more democracy." Selenskij had come with his wife, Jelena, to the polling station, where dozens of journalists thronged to the candidate.

critics accuse the comedian's political inexperience and populism. He was a Comedy series popular, he represents the Ukrainian President, the one with the corrupt power elite is not cleaning up. "Today a new life begins - without corruption, without bribes," said Selenskij. President Poroshenko has been accused of during the election campaign increased corruption.