Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's party took a commanding lead in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, handing the novice politician a broader mandate for driving change and tackling corruption in the war-scarred nation.

A comedian with no prior policymaking experience, Zelenskiy gained fame playing a schoolteacher who becomes president in a TV comedy. He won a landslide victory in a presidential vote in April, running as an outsider who would tackle corruption and raise living standards in one of Europe's poorest countries.

The 41-year-old has had to deal with a cabinet and lawmakers who are mostly loyal to his predecessor Petro Poroshenko, prompting him to announce on the day of his inauguration a snap election to win a mandate in parliament.

Exit polls showed his Servant of the People party far ahead of its nearest challenger, although possibly short of a majority. The Russian-friendly Opposition Platform was placed in a distant second place, followed by Poroshenko's party and that of a former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

The Voice party, fronted by another newcomer to politics, rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, was fifth.

A triumphant Zelenskiy said he would invite Voice for coalition talks. Vakarchuk's pro-Western party said it was open to an alliance with new political forces so long as they were not backed by oligarchs.

FIRMER GRIP

The election gives Zelenskiy a firmer grip on a country at the centre of a dispute between Moscow and the West that arose from Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 support for separatist rebels in the east.

The new government will also need to implement reforms agreed with international donors to secure billions of dollars of new loans to keep the economy stable.

Zelenskiy, after casting his ballot in north Kiev, said he would decide on coalition options after results were known.

"(But) Honestly, we don't see a coalition with anyone from the old leadership," he said.

He wanted a professional economist as prime minister and said he was holding consultations with a possible candidate he did not identify. "I would like him to be an absolutely independent person, who has never been either a prime minister or a speaker or a leader of any faction."

Beyond his everyman image, Zelenskiy has faced scrutiny over his business connections to one of Ukraine's most powerful tycoons, Ihor Kolomoisky, owner of the TV station that brought Zelenskiy fame. Zelenskiy insists he is not beholden to Kolomoisky and will not take his side in a dispute with the state over control of Ukraine's biggest bank.

Zelenskiy will seek a new aid-for-reforms programme with the International Monetary Fund and has promised crowd-pleasing anti-corruption measures, such as stripping lawmakers of immunity from prosecution.

Often tie-less and speaking to voters through social media videos, Zelenskiy has carried his informal style from the campaign trail into the presidency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's party took a commanding lead in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, handing the novice politician a broader mandate for driving change and tackling corruption in the war-scarred nation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's party took a commanding lead in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, handing the novice politician a broader mandate for driving change and tackling corruption in the war-scarred nation. A comedian with no prior policymaking experience, Zelenskiy gained fame playing a schoolteacher who becomes president in a TV comedy. He won a landslide victory in a presidential vote in April, running as an outsider who would tackle corruption and raise living standards in one of Europe's poorest countries. The 41-year-old has had to deal with a cabinet and lawmakers who are mostly loyal to his predecessor Petro Poroshenko, prompting him to announce on the day of his inauguration a snap election to win a mandate in parliament. Exit polls showed his Servant of the People party far ahead of its nearest challenger, although possibly short of a majority. The Russian-friendly Opposition Platform was placed in a distant second place, followed by Poroshenko's party and that of a former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko. The Voice party, fronted by another newcomer to politics, rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, was fifth. A triumphant Zelenskiy said he would invite Voice for coalition talks. Vakarchuk's pro-Western party said it was open to an alliance with new political forces so long as they were not backed by oligarchs. FIRMER GRIP The election gives Zelenskiy a firmer grip on a country at the centre of a dispute between Moscow and the West that arose from Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 support for separatist rebels in the east. The new government will also need to implement reforms agreed with international donors to secure billions of dollars of new loans to keep the economy stable. Zelenskiy, after casting his ballot in north Kiev, said he would decide on coalition options after results were known. "(But) Honestly, we don't see a coalition with anyone from the old leadership," he said. He wanted a professional economist as prime minister and said he was holding consultations with a possible candidate he did not identify. "I would like him to be an absolutely independent person, who has never been either a prime minister or a speaker or a leader of any faction." Beyond his everyman image, Zelenskiy has faced scrutiny over his business connections to one of Ukraine's most powerful tycoons, Ihor Kolomoisky, owner of the TV station that brought Zelenskiy fame. Zelenskiy insists he is not beholden to Kolomoisky and will not take his side in a dispute with the state over control of Ukraine's biggest bank. Zelenskiy will seek a new aid-for-reforms programme with the International Monetary Fund and has promised crowd-pleasing anti-corruption measures, such as stripping lawmakers of immunity from prosecution. Often tie-less and speaking to voters through social media videos, Zelenskiy has carried his informal style from the campaign trail into the presidency.

On course for election win, Ukraine president offers alliance with rockstar Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's party

Ukrainians on Sunday go to the polls to elect a new parliament as comedian-turned-president Volodymyr Zelensky seeks to bring in political novices and consolidate his power.

Zelensky's newly-created party is expected to win the largest share of the votes in the elections that should usher in a new era in the ex-Soviet country dominated up to now by politicians who grew up in the USSR.

The leader's party Servant of the People -- named after a sitcom in which he played a president -- is predicted to get roughly half of the vote even though it barely existed before Zelensky won a landslide victory in an April presidential vote.

Zelensky's rise has been viewed as a rejection of Ukraine's political elite for failing to improve living standards, root out corruption and end the conflict with Russian-backed separatists that began in 2014 after a popular uprising ousted a pro-Moscow president.

The Ukrainian president must share power with parliament, which will nominate a prime minister and form a government.

Speaking in the run-up to the vote, Zelensky promised to put together a "technocratic government."

"My goal is to make Ukraine one of the fastest growing and developing European economies," he said in a video address.

The Western-backed country of 45 million people has gone through two popular uprisings in two decades and is still mired in the conflict with eastern separatists that has claimed some 13,000 lives.

Servant of the People may fall short of a majority and may need to form a coalition.

The ballot is expected to dramatically transform the makeup of the legislature, with analysts predicting that between 50 and 70 per cent of the next parliament will be first-time MPs.&nbsp;

Out of the five parties leading in opinion polls, two are newly created -- Zelensky's own party and Golos (Voice), led by rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk.

Packed with young people new to politics, the two parties have gone as far as banning any candidates who previously served as MPs from their lists.&nbsp;

Their candidates include businesspeople, athletes, and activists. Their average age is 37.

The 41-year-old Zelensky, who shocked Ukraine in April by becoming the country's youngest-ever post-Soviet leader, also invited ordinary Ukrainians to run for his party.

'Lot of challenges'

On the last day of campaigning on Friday, Vakarchuk and his popular band Okean Elzy gave a free concert in Kiev to a chanting, mostly young, crowd.&nbsp;

"We understand that it will be difficult. We understand that we will face a lot of challenges. We are ready," Vakarchuk told supporters.

Golos is likely to enter parliament, with polls showing support of between four and seven per cent.&nbsp;

In a boon for the Kremlin, a pro-Moscow party called Opposition Platform–For Life is the second most popular in opinion polls, with up to 13 per cent of voter support.

Top party candidate Viktor Medvedchuk, who has claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin is his daughter's godfather, is expected to return to parliament after a long absence.

Former president Petro Poroshenko's party -- now renamed European Solidarity -- and the party of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko have up to eight and nine per cent, respectively.

A total of 225 of parliament's 424 members are elected through party lists, while the rest are selected directly in single-member districts. &nbsp;

Parliamentary elections had been set to take place in October but Zelensky called early polls to cement his grip on power.&nbsp;

Ukrainians on Sunday go to the polls to elect a new parliament as comedian-turned-president Volodymyr Zelensky seeks to bring in political novices and consolidate his power.

Ukrainians on Sunday go to the polls to elect a new parliament as comedian-turned-president Volodymyr Zelensky seeks to bring in political novices and consolidate his power. Zelensky's newly-created party is expected to win the largest share of the votes in the elections that should usher in a new era in the ex-Soviet country dominated up to now by politicians who grew up in the USSR. The leader's party Servant of the People -- named after a sitcom in which he played a president -- is predicted to get roughly half of the vote even though it barely existed before Zelensky won a landslide victory in an April presidential vote. Zelensky's rise has been viewed as a rejection of Ukraine's political elite for failing to improve living standards, root out corruption and end the conflict with Russian-backed separatists that began in 2014 after a popular uprising ousted a pro-Moscow president. The Ukrainian president must share power with parliament, which will nominate a prime minister and form a government. Speaking in the run-up to the vote, Zelensky promised to put together a "technocratic government." "My goal is to make Ukraine one of the fastest growing and developing European economies," he said in a video address. The Western-backed country of 45 million people has gone through two popular uprisings in two decades and is still mired in the conflict with eastern separatists that has claimed some 13,000 lives. Servant of the People may fall short of a majority and may need to form a coalition. The ballot is expected to dramatically transform the makeup of the legislature, with analysts predicting that between 50 and 70 per cent of the next parliament will be first-time MPs. Out of the five parties leading in opinion polls, two are newly created -- Zelensky's own party and Golos (Voice), led by rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk. Packed with young people new to politics, the two parties have gone as far as banning any candidates who previously served as MPs from their lists. Their candidates include businesspeople, athletes, and activists. Their average age is 37. The 41-year-old Zelensky, who shocked Ukraine in April by becoming the country's youngest-ever post-Soviet leader, also invited ordinary Ukrainians to run for his party. 'Lot of challenges' On the last day of campaigning on Friday, Vakarchuk and his popular band Okean Elzy gave a free concert in Kiev to a chanting, mostly young, crowd. "We understand that it will be difficult. We understand that we will face a lot of challenges. We are ready," Vakarchuk told supporters. Golos is likely to enter parliament, with polls showing support of between four and seven per cent. In a boon for the Kremlin, a pro-Moscow party called Opposition Platform–For Life is the second most popular in opinion polls, with up to 13 per cent of voter support. Top party candidate Viktor Medvedchuk, who has claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin is his daughter's godfather, is expected to return to parliament after a long absence. Former president Petro Poroshenko's party -- now renamed European Solidarity -- and the party of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko have up to eight and nine per cent, respectively. A total of 225 of parliament's 424 members are elected through party lists, while the rest are selected directly in single-member districts. Parliamentary elections had been set to take place in October but Zelensky called early polls to cement his grip on power.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky's party poised to win parliament vote

svyatoslav-vakarchuk

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, News on Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, stories on Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, articles on Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk stories at Wion, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk news, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk latest news

svyatoslav vakarchuk

On course for election win, Ukraine president offers alliance with rockstar Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's party

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky's party poised to win parliament vote