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2004 Ukrainian presidential election

Ukrainian presidential election, 2004
Ukraine
← 1999 October 31, November 21, December 26, 2004 2010 →
  Viktor Yushchenko Viktor Yanukovych
Nominee Viktor Yushchenko Viktor Yanukovych
Party Independent Party of Regions
Popular vote 15,115,712 12,848,528
Percentage 51.99% 44.20%

Ukraine Presidential Dec 2004 Vote (Highest vote)a.png
Results of the December 26, 2004 repeated run-off presidential election. Orange and Blue denotes regions where Yushchenko and Yanukoych respectively were the highest polling candidates.

President before election

Leonid Kuchma
Nonpartisan

Elected President

Viktor Yushchenko
Nonpartisan


Leonid Kuchma
Nonpartisan

Viktor Yushchenko
Nonpartisan

The Ukrainian presidential election, 2004 was held on October 31, November 21 and December 26, 2004. The election was the fourth presidential election to take place in Ukraine following independence from the Soviet Union. The last stages of the election were contested between the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko and the incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych from the Party of Regions. The election was held in a highly charged political atmosphere, with allegations of media bias, voter intimidation and a poisoning of candidate Yushchenko with dioxin.

According to Ukraine's electoral law, a two-round system is used to elect the President in which a candidate must win a majority (50% or more) of all ballots cast. The first round of voting was held on October 31, 2004. As no candidate had 50% or more of the votes cast a run-off ballot between the two-highest polling candidates, Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych, was held on November 21. According to official Central Election Commission results announced on November 23, the run-off election was won by Viktor Yanukovych. The election results were challenged by Viktor Yushchenko and his supporters with many international observers claiming that the election was rigged.

The subsequent events led to a political crisis in Ukraine, with widespread peaceful protesters, dubbed the "Orange Revolution," calling for a re-run second round election. The Ukrainian Supreme Court annulled the official run-off results and ordered a repeat of second round ballot.


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