Brussels, 27/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner congratulated the people and leaders of Ukraine for the way free and fair parliamentary elections were held on 26 March. According to the official partial results from just 20% of voting offices, the main pro-Russian opposition party under Viktor Ianukovitch is in the lead with 25.54% of the votes, followed by the Bloc under Iulia Timoshenko (23.61%) and the coalition under Viktor Yushenko (17.28%). The democratic conduct of the poll and pre-electoral campaign are “further proof of the consolidation of democratic standards in Ukraine since the Orange Revolution”, Ms Ferrero-Waldner said. This is a “key political priority” of the EU/Ukraine action plan for implementation of the EU Neighbourhood Policy “opening new opportunities for Ukraine in its relationship with the EU”, she said. OSCE and the Council of Europe also confirmed on Monday that Sunday's legislative elections in Ukraine were “free and fair”.