Viktor Yanukovych won Ukraine's 2010 presidential election in a contested runoff over Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, shifting national leadership.
Key Facts
- First round date
- 17 January 2010
- Runoff date
- 7 February 2010
- Winner declared
- Viktor Yanukovych
- Yanukovych vote share
- 50%
- Inauguration date
- 25 February 2010
- Appeal withdrawn
- 20 February 2010 by Tymoshenko
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
No candidate secured a majority in the first round on 17 January 2010, forcing a runoff between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych. The election took place amid deep political divisions in Ukraine over the country's geopolitical orientation and economic direction.
The runoff was held on 7 February 2010, and on 14 February Yanukovych was declared President-elect with approximately 50% of the popular vote. Tymoshenko filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court, which temporarily suspended the election results on 17 February, though Yanukovych's inauguration scheduled for 25 February was not postponed.
Tymoshenko withdrew her legal appeal on 20 February 2010, allowing Yanukovych's victory to stand. He was inaugurated as President of Ukraine on 25 February, marking a shift in leadership that would influence Ukraine's domestic politics and its relations with Russia and the European Union in subsequent years.
Political Outcome
Viktor Yanukovych won the presidential runoff with 50% of the vote and was inaugurated on 25 February 2010 after Tymoshenko withdrew her legal challenge.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (head of government); Viktor Yushchenko as president
Viktor Yanukovych as President of Ukraine