Ukraine comedian leads in presidential election

A comedian with no political experience has won the most votes in the first round of Ukraine’s presidential elections, according to exit polls.

They say Volodymyr Zelenskiy – who played the president on TV – received 30.4% of the vote, with current leader Petro Poroshenko second on 17.8%.

The two are set to take part in a run-off election next month.

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Former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, who the polls say received 14.2%, appears to have been eliminated.

A total of 39 candidates are on the ballot paper, and with none receiving 50% the top two will go forward to the run-off on 21 April.

The Ukrainian president has significant powers over security, defence and foreign policy and the ex-Soviet republic’s system is described as semi-presidential.

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