At the headquarters of the world boxing champion Vitaliy Klitschko the atmosphere is one of a big party turned sour.
Before the elections
Klitschko’s party seemed
a serious contender for the spot of the country’s second biggest
party, with 15-19 percent of support and an
upward trend in different sociological surveys
suggesting it could overtake the United Opposition. But exit
polls give Klitschko’s UDAR party around 14
percent of support.
Speaking to journalists in his
headquarters in downtown Kyiv Klitschko evaded
the question of whether he was disappointed
with the result. “The goal was to get 15
percent of support. And, according to exit polls,
we got around 15 percent…. Years ago people were smiling
when they heard of a party headed by the
world boxing champion. Then they stopped smiling and started
listening. Now we have become a national party,” he said.
But the atmosphere is that of a party
which was anticipated to be much bigger, with the
boxer being described as the biggest sensation of these elections. At
present, however, it seems the right-wing Svoboda has won that
distinction.
Probably planning his triumph party Klitschko definitely decided to not
save money on treats for journalists.
Grilled Bavarian sausages, and other meats, fish, vegetables and soups are being served. There are also plenty of soft
drinks, hot red wine and pastries.
Dozens of journalists, both
international and Ukrainian, are packed into the
small headquarters, joined by international observers and
representatives of international organizations in Ukraine that roam
in and out.
Most of Klitschko’s team is out as
they migrate from one TV show to another or monitor the situation
with the vote count in the
regions. Klitschko is spending the night at
the headquarters joined by his right hand man Vitaliy
Kovalchuk, and the head of his
legal team Valeriy Karpuntsov.
Kyiv Post staff writer Svitlana
Tuchynska can be reached at [email protected]
