Klitschko won't run for Kyiv mayor after snowfall emergency, Popov has chances, say experts

Kyiv, March 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – After the emergency situation in Kyiv due to the recent extreme snowfall, the leader of the UDAR Party, Vitali Klitschko, will not run for Kyiv mayor, thanks to which Head of Kyiv City State Administration Oleksandr Popov has every chance to take mayor's office as the only candidate for this position from the ruling party, political scientists have said.

"I think an important conclusion that should be drawn [from the emergency situation in the capital] is that earlier Klitschko could have doubts whether he should try to become city mayor, but now I think he has no doubt about the issue, as one can see that any event in the municipal system may crush his rating. He has much better chances in the presidential election. We can close down the issue right now – he won't run for mayor," Director of the Kyiv Political Research and Conflictology Mykhailo Pohrebynsky said on Friday at a press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the political scientist, although before the snowfall one could assume that mayoral elections could be put off until 2015, today there is another scenario.

"If Klitschko does not run, then I think Popov has rather good chances, despite this [snow emergency] failure," Pohrebynsky said.

In turn, Director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov said Popov is the only candidate for Kyiv mayor from the ruling party.

"If the elections are held this year, then it's impossible to promote a new candidate – where can the authorities get another candidate? If the elections are scheduled for 2015, there is also no point [in seeking another candidate], as in that case those who lobbied for Popov will have to admit their defeat," He will remain in any case, no matter whether the elections are held in 2013 or 2015. Popov remains one of the main candidates, if not the only real candidate for Kyiv mayor from the authorities," Karasiov.

Head of the Penta Center for Applied Political Studies Volodymyr Fesenko, in turn, drew attention to the fact that Popov maintained his position after the difficult situation in the capital, which means that mayoral elections could be called this year.

"The fact that Popov maintained his position slightly increases, although does not guarantee a possibility that mayoral elections in Kyiv will be held [this year]. If they dismissed him, it is most likely that the elections would not be held," he said.

Fesenko added that a poll might be held in late April to assess the ratings of candidates for Kyiv mayor.

"There is no point in holding them now. If Popov ran for the elections today, the situation would be critical for him. But what will happen in a month? If they decide to hold the elections, they will hold them in summer. Naturally, people will have other mood and other world perception, and Popov will have real chances," the expert said.

Fesenko said Popov will have every chance to win the elections only if the opposition does not nominate a candidate with a high rating.