On paper, his party is ahead. But, in practice, Viktor Yanukovich may have difficulty hanging onto his job as Ukraine’s prime minister. The combined score of his “Orange” rivals looks to have given them the upper hand. Exit polls however do put the premier’s Regions party in first place. And, on that basis, he is presenting a positive front. “I’m confident we have won and with a good score so we have the right to form a coalition,” said the 57-year-old.

“I think that already tomorrow, we will engage our partners for the negotiations”. Written off by many after being humiliated three years ago by President Viktor Yushchenko in the Orange Revolution, Yanukovich has proved he can pull off political surprises. He bounced back to become prime minister last year after his party took first place in that election. But whether he can do the same this time around remains far from clear.

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