Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovich has been nominated for Ukrainian president at a party congress, Itar-Tass reported.
Representatives of United Russia, New Azerbaijan, Prosperous Armenia and the Center Union of Moldova attended the party congress as guests.
Yanukovich presented his election program called "Ukraine for People". He promised to overcome the split and unite Ukraine, to overcome the crisis, to achieve European living standards, to make the armed forces professional, to provide equality of languages and to keep Ukraine a neutrals state unaffiliated to any blocs.
He is a key applicant for the presidential position. About 30% of Ukrainians are ready to vote for Yanukovich, according to opinion polls. His main rival, Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, enjoys support of 15-20% of Ukrainians.
The Central Elections Commission has registered four candidates, and another three applied for registration. The election campaign started on October 19, and the election will take place on January 17, 2010.
Lawyer Oleg Ryabokon applied to the Ukrainian Central Elections Commission on October 20 for registration as a presidential candidate, the Central Elections Commission said. Ryabokon supplied the appropriate set of documents, including the confirmation of an election deposit of 2.5 million hryvni (about $300,000). By law, the Central Elections Commission will consider the application and make a decision within five days.
Ukrainian Communist Party leader Pyotr Simonenko was unanimously nominated for president at the October 20 congress of the Left Bloc.
The Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party (United), the Justice Party and the Union of Left Forces formed the bloc for presidential and further elections. In the opinion of sociologists, Simonenko can count on the support of 4% of voters.
The nomination of Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko for president is planned for October 24. Timoshenko is supported by approximately 20% of voters.
The pro-presidential Our Ukraine scheduled its congress for November 3-8. The party will nominate President Viktor Yushchenko for re-election. His current rating is about 3%. Nominations can be made until November 6.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will send 660 observers to the Ukrainian presidential election, Ukrainian Permanent Representative to Vienna-Based International Organizations Vladimir Yelchenko said earlier.
These include 60 long-term observers, who will come to Ukraine in late October when the election campaign starts, he said. The other 600 observers will arrive directly before the ballot of January 17, 2010.
According to the Ukrainian Central Elections Commission, the OSCE sent 1,832 observers to the previous presidential election in 2004, and the total number of international observers stood at 12,545. Poland sent the largest delegation, 2,355 observers. Russia sent 84.