A left-wing take on the Ukrainian presidential election

A left-wing analyst hopes the newly elected ‘outsider President’ of the Ukraine will   bring relief to Hungary’s tormented north-eastern neighbour.

In Népszava, Mária Gál describes Volodimir Zelensky’s victory over the powerful and professional incumbent as a carbon copy of the TV serial where he played an ordinary citizen who becomes president in order to put an end to pervasive corruption in politics. If the people elect an amateur instead of a professional politician, she argues, that is a clear sign of disillusionment with the whole political élite. Corruption is just one side of the story, Gál explains. The simmering war continues in the Eastern regions and the previous government failed to promote reconciliation with the Russian-speaking inhabitants of those settlements.  Now Zelensky has pledged to try to regain the confidence of the local population and launch a process of peaceful reconciliation. Gál hopes that he will be successful.

Tags: Ukraine