The Heat: Ukraine elects comedian as new president

The Heat

Ukraine runoff election

Until now Volodymyr Zelensky has only portrayed a president on television, now he has the chance to lead his country for real.

According to the Central Election Commission, the political novice defeated incumbent President Petro Poroshenko with 73 percent of the vote Sunday.

Zelensky won the support of voters tired of government corruption, high unemployment and the conflict with Russia in eastern Ukraine.

CGTN’s Natalie Carney reports from Kiev.

Follow Natalie Carney on Twitter @NatalieCarney77

To discuss all of this:

  • Serhiy Kudelia is an associate professor of political science at Baylor University.
  • Serhy Yekelchyk is a professor of history at the University of Victoria.
  • Anton Fedyashin is a professor of history at American University.
  • David Marples is a distinguished university professor in the department of history and classics at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

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