You're reading: Poll: Yanukovych to lose to opposition candidates in second round of presidential elections

A high approval rating of incumbent President Viktor Yanukovych in the first round of presidential elections does not currently ensure his victory over potential opposition candidates in the second round, sociologists say.

The results of a study conducted by the Socis Center for Sociological and Marketing Research and the Rating Sociological Group show that if the presidential elections in Ukraine were held this Sunday, 20.2% of respondents would support incumbent President Viktor Yanukovych, 18.6% UDAR faction leader Vitali Klitschko and 9.4% Batkivschyna faction leader Arseniy Yatseniuk.

Some 7.1% would vote for MP Petro Poroshenko, 5.1% for Svoboda leader Oleh Tiahnybok, 4.5% for Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko, and 0.9% for leader of the Ukrainian Choice public movement Viktor Medvedchuk.

At the same time, 14.7% would not participate in the elections, and 13.9% were undecided.

In addition, the survey showed that if Yanukovych and Klitschko won through to the second round of presidential elections, 25.2% of respondents would vote for Yanukovych and 42.7% for Klitschko. At the same time, 19.6% would not participate in the second round, and 12.5% were undecided.

If Yanukovych and Yatseniuk advanced to the second round of presidential elections, 25.8% of those polled would vote for Yanukovych and 35% for Yatseniuk. At the same time, 24.4% would not participate in the second round, and 14.8% were undecided.

If Yanukovych and Poroshenko progressed to the second round of presidential elections, 25% would vote for Yanukovych and 33% for Poroshenko. At the same time, 25.7% would not participate in the second round, and 16.3% were undecided.

If Yanukovych and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko won through to the second round of presidential elections, 26.6% would vote for Yanukovych and 32.1% for Tymoshenko.

If Yanukovych and Tiahnybok advanced to the second round of presidential elections, 27.1% would vote for Yanukovych and 28.8% for Tiahnybok.

The study was conducted on December 7-17 this year. A total of 3,200 respondents aged over 18 from all regions of the country were interviewed. The poll’s margin of error does not exceed 1.8%.