The Irish Times view on Ukraine’s election: Breaking the system
Volodymyr Zelenskiy parlayed his popularity as a comedian into a landslide victory in the presidential election
Volodymyr Zelenskiy reacts following the announcement of the results of the first exit poll in the presidential election runoff, at his campaign headquarters in Kiev, Ukraine. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
“It’s like a vicious circle,” fictional Ukrainian president Vasyl Holoborodko observes in the country’s popular television comedy Servant of the People. “If someone’s honest then he must be a fool, and if he’s smart he must be a thief.” Now the actor who plays him, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, must prove his character wrong by showing that as Ukraine’s real head of state he can fulfil his promise to fight corruption while outwitting a discredited elite and holding his own against Russian president Vladimir Putin.
While hapless teacher Holoborodko is pitched into power by a viral video showing him ranting against graft, Zelenskiy parlayed his popularity as a comedian into a landslide victory over incumbent Petro Poroshenko in Sunday’s presidential election run-off. Zelenskiy’s campaign appealed strongly to a nation disillusioned with established politicians, by replacing the normal routine of rallies and long speeches with snappy messages and short clips posted on social media.