Most political experts in and outside of Ukraine have reacted negatively or very negatively to Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s announcement, on New Year’s eve, that he will be a candidate in Ukraine’s presidential elections, scheduled for March 31st (first round) and April 21st 2019 (run-off). Indeed, Zelenskiy’s submission is in various ways problematic. His candidacy is probably an even more ambivalent enterprise than those of the other two top contenders, opposition leader Yuliya Tymoshenko and incumbent president Petro Poroshenko. Still, for all the apt skepticism there is also – as in the case of certain positive aspects of Tymoshenko’s and Poroshenko’s runs – a bright side to the announcement of Zelenskiy. One can identify, at least, three seriously risky or negative, but also three relatively encouraging, dimensions of Zelenskiy’s entry into the race.
2019 Presidential Election
OP-ED
Andreas Umland: The ambivalence of the Zelenskiy candidacy
Vladimir Zelenskiy, one of the founders of Kvartal 95, in the Servant of the People, a popular Ukrainian comedy series.
