Ukraine's Ruling Party Holds 30 Percent

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (file photo)

With more than 99 percent of party-list ballots counted from Ukraine's parliamentary elections, figures from the Central Election Commission show the ruling Party of Regions holding the lead with just above 30 percent.

The party of President Viktor Yanukovych looks set to control at least 187 mandates in the 450-seat Verkhova Rada.

Analysts say the party is likely to pursue a partnership with its Communist Party allies in order to control the 226 seats needed for a majority.

The nearly complete results show the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko winning around 103 parliament seats.

OSCE observers and the United States have criticized the October 28 vote as a step “backward,” citing Tymoshenko’s imprisonment and the misuse of government resources to support ruling-party candidates.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax