On 26 October 2014 early parliamentary elections will be held in Ukraine. The FES Perspective Old and New Elites - Ukrainian Political Parties before the Parliamentary Elections by Ina Kirsch van de Water analyses the profiles of the most important parties. You will find the perspective in the attachment to this e-mail.

In brief: � In the campaign the parties differ little in terms of their programmes, although populism is dominant. The favourites are the »Petro Poroshenko Bloc«, who are close to the president. After the elections the president is likely to be able to establish a broad parliamentary base, aided by the »independent« direct candidates. � Almost all Ukrainian parties have put Independence Square (»Maidan«) activists, well-known journalists and commanders of volunteer units in leading positions on their party lists. The next parliament will thus include many newcomers to the business of politics. We can thus expect that the voting behaviour of the parliamentary factions will be more unpredictable and more radicalised. � Despite the gains of the Independence Square (Maidan) uprising the close intertwining of politics and the business oligarchy continues. Businessmen still fund political parties, not for altruistic reasons but so that their elected supporters will henceforth be able to lobby for their economic interests.