It is a shock to see Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko, the Orange Revolution leader, humbled in his country's parliamentary elections. A year ago he was counted among modern Europe's heroes for his peaceful triumph over an authoritarian regime. Now he is struggling to hold his own in the post-revolutionary turmoil.

Mr Yushchenko's party seems certain to have come a poor third in the polls, behind the groupings headed by Yulia Tymoshenko, his former ally, and Viktor Yanukovich, his opponent in the disputed 2004 presidential elections. Although she came second to Mr Yanukovich, Ms Tymoshenko, the charismatic populist whom Mr Yushchenko sacked from his government last summer, is the real winner and the likely new prime minister.