Viktor Yushchenko

Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko (Ukrainian: ?????? ?????????? ??????) (born 23 February 1954) is the President of Ukraine. As leader of the Our Ukraine (Nasha Ukrayina) political coalition, he was the main opposition candidate in the October–November 2004 Ukrainian presidential election. Ukraine's Central Election Commission declared him the winner of the 26 December 2004 re-run of the runoff election, by 52% to 44% over Viktor Yanukovych. Yushchenko had previously served as the chairman of the country's central bank from 1993 to 1999 and as the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 1999 to 2001.

Prime Minister

In December 1999, Yushchenko was unexpectedly nominated as prime minister by President Leonid Kuchma after the previous candidate, Valeriy Pustovoytenko, fell short of one vote to get ratified by the parliament. Yushchenko was confirmed to the post by an overwhelming majority of 296?12.

Related Topics:
1999 - Prime minister - Leonid Kuchma - Valeriy Pustovoytenko

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Significant economic progress was made during Yushchenko's cabinet service, though critics argue that this was made possible by the general situation of the economy, and was not the result of his actions. Soon, his government (particularly, deputy prime minister Yuliya Tymoshenko) became embroiled in a confrontation with influential coal mining and natural gas industry leaders. The conflict resulted in a 2001 no-confidence vote by the parliament, which was mainly the work of Communists, who had opposed Yushchenko's economic policies, and centrist groups associated with the country's powerful "oligarchs". The vote was carried by 263 to 69 and resulted in Yushchenko's removal from office.

Related Topics:
Yuliya Tymoshenko - Coal - Mining - Natural gas - 2001 - No-confidence vote - Oligarchs

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The fall of his government was viewed with dismay by many Ukrainians; four million votes were gathered in support of a petition supporting him and opposing the parliamentary vote and a 10,000-strong demonstration was held in Kiev.

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