Elections in Ukraine: the long-awaited debate Zelensky and Poroshenko at the stadium began

In Kiev, at the NSC Olimpiyskiy stadium, debates of candidates for the presidency of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Zelensky began.

Photo: Live Screenshot Screenshot

The candidates perform on the same stage. Who starts performing first? the lot was decided. The candidates tossed a coin. If it comes up heads, then Zelensky starts, if the coat of arms is Poroshenko. It came up heads. Zelensky was the first to speak.

The debate is moderated by Elena Froliak and Andrey Kulikov. The debates include an introductory word for both candidates for 5 minutes, 36 minutes for discussion, the final performance of each for 5 minutes and replicas of candidates for 30 seconds.

Before the debate, the candidates shook hands.

Photo: Live Screenshot Screenshot

During his speech, Zelensky said that in 2014 he voted for Poroshenko, “but was mistaken.”

During the performance of Zelensky, the crowd is chanting loudly, Zelensky asks not to shout.

Zelensky said that Poroshenko “Medvedchuk sends greetings to Moscow.”

“I’m not a politician, I’m a simple person who came to break the system. “I am the result of your mistakes and promises,” he said, addressing Poroshenko.

Then Poroshenko took the floor. He said that it is important to know the position of the candidate for the presidency of a warring country, what exactly he is going to do.

Poroshenko stressed that there are many challenges for Ukraine and the president should be strong.

“I believe that Mr. Vladimir does not want to surrender Ukraine, but Putin dreams of this, and if he does not know how to do it, we must remove the risks. We only have a beautiful wrapper... You are not a pig in a poke, you are a bag, and in your bag there are oligarchs and everything that threatens my country,” Poroshenko said.

The current president of Ukraine has come to the stadium at 18: 50.

Poroshenko Priishov at the debate pic.twitter.com/dSShbABeTa

- Roman Kravets (@RomanKravets) April 19, 2019

Zelensky came to the election in 18: 58.

Poki Zelensky Vistup при, the Chillers of the Poroshenko Yogo are galled to shout # debate pic.twitter.com/0t9QRnWnaP

- Roman Kravets (@RomanKravets) April 19, 2019

• Recall 31 March in Ukraine passed the first round presidential election. In total, the CEC of Ukraine registered record 39 candidates. The first round was won by Vladimir Zelensky, who scored more than 30% of votes. Poroshenko scored 15,93%.
• The debates of the candidates at the Olympic Stadium were scheduled to take place on April 14, but Zelensky did not come on them. Zelensky at this time was in Paris. Debate began without him. Petro Poroshenko delivered an introductory 5-minute speech and answered questions from journalists.
• Zelensky refused to debate at the 14 stadium in April, suggesting another date - April 19. Poroshenko’s headquarters responded that they were ready to come to the 19 stadium on April, but only from 16: 00 to 18: 00, since in 19: 00 the president will be at the debate on Public Television. According to the decision of the Central Election Commission, the official debates should be held in the studio of Public Television 19 on April at 19: 00, therefore the debates at the stadium will be considered unofficial. But in the end, after contacting the CEC, the Poroshenko team declared its readiness to meet with Zelensky at the "Olympic" 19 in April at 19: 00.
• Poroshenko and Zelensky earlier argued about the place and time of the debate on the live television channel "1 + 1". Poroshenko personally came to the studio, and Zelensky talked to him on the phone from Paris. The President of Ukraine invited his rival to the debate at the April 14 Stadium. Zelensky said that they had previously agreed on another date - April 19, when they should pass the official debates of the candidates stipulated by law. Zelensky did not listen to his opponent’s objections and hung up.
• 9 of April representatives of the CEC and NOTU stated that the official television debates between presidential candidates Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Zelensky were scheduled for 20: 00 19 of April. Their cost will be 5 million 766 thousand UAH (almost $ 216 000).
• The second round of elections will take place on April 21.
• Team candidates. Poroshenko promised in case of re-election to replenish his team with "young, new people" and no longer appoint "no business partners, no close people."
• Until the last moment, one of the main complaints about Zelensky was that he did not disclose the composition of his team. But before the debate, he finally announced the list of people he plans to appoint if elected. The most famous of them - Alexander Danilyuk, who for two years was Minister of Finance under Poroshenko. He will be responsible for foreign, financial and banking policies. Others are either former officials holding secondary posts, or university professors and scholars, mostly lawyers.

ForumDaily leads Online Debate Reportingwhich you can follow the link. Also available are live broadcasts of debates in both Ukrainian and Russian (simultaneous translation).

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Every time there are some loopholes: what Zelensky and Poroshenko cannot agree on now

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Five leaders of the presidential race in Ukraine: briefly about each

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