Batkivschyna withdraws 26 candidates from elections in favor of UDAR Party
The Batkivschyna United Opposition has decided to withdraw from the elections 26 candidates running for MP in single-member districts in favor of Vitali Klitschko's UDAR Party.
"The congress has adopted a responsible decision. We have withdrawn 26 parliamentary candidates in favor of the UDAR Party," the head of the central election headquarters of the united opposition, Oleksandr Turchynov, said.
He declined to name the list of these candidates, but added that it would soon be made public.
Turchynov said that the list also includes current MPs.
"This decision was difficult, but it was taken. Moreover, I can say that we consider this process to be positive for Ukraine, as it strengthens the positions of democratic forces during this election campaign. And I hope that it will be brought to completion, particularly to the victory of democratic forces," Turchynov said.
The head of the council of the united opposition, Arseniy Yatseniuk, in turn, said that the decision to withdraw 26 opposition candidates in favor of UDAR would significantly increase the opposition's chances of winning the elections.
On October 14, the UDAR Party decided to withdraw 26 of its candidates running for MP in single-member constituencies in favor of Batkivschyna candidates in order to unite the votes of the electorate and beat Regions Party representatives.