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President

History

Beginning of the Ukrainian democracy was originated in the Cossack period but its rapid development and the establishment of the Institute of Presidency started in the tenths of the XX century. During the Central Rada (Council) activity four edicts were issued that were the foundations for democracy of the Ukrainian society. The Central Rada (Council) proclaimed complete political independence of Ukraine from Russia with the last edict of January 22, 1919. On April 29, 1918, this body elected Mykhailo Hrushevsky as the President of the Ukrainian National Republic.

On December 1, 1991 another significant event had taken place in the history of the Ukrainian Presidency. That day people voted for proclamation of Ukraine’s independence and elected the first President of a new Ukrainian State – Leonid Kravchuk.

Firstly, in 1994 people elected the next President of Ukraine by means of elections. The Head of the State Leonid Danylovych Kuchma became the President of Ukraine. On January 23, 2005 Victor Anriyovych Yushchenko was inaugurated as the third President.

The 4th and current President of Ukraine is Viktor Yanukovych, who was elected on February 7, 2010 by the results of national vote. On February 25 he swore the oath of the President of Ukraine.

Election

The citizens of Ukraine elect the President of Ukraine for a five-year term by means of universal, equal, direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Structure

Presidential Secretariat; Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine; State Protocol and Ceremonial Office of the President of Ukraine; Office for relations with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; Consultative Council; Council of National Security and Defence of Ukraine; Regional Administrations.

Duties

The President of Ukraine is the Head of State and the highest official in the system of state authorities. The President should not be the head or a member of any branch of the power. The President represents the State and the government as a whole. The President as the Head of State is vested with authorities to act on its behalf in Ukraine and abroad. The President also is the Guarantor of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, elected by state direct suffrage for a five-year-term and enjoys the right of immunity during the term of authority.

Principal authorities in the spheres of:

Legislation- the right of legislative initiative, to veto laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council);

Executive power – to dismiss the Prime Minister, to revoke acts of the Cabinet of Ministers;

Military-political – the Commander–in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Head of the Council of National Security and Defence of Ukraine;

Personnel formation.

Issues subordinate legislation, decrees and orders.

Legal Basis

The President of Ukraine acts in the name of the Constitution of Ukraine, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Elections of the President of Ukraine”, the Law “On All-Ukrainian and local referendums”, the Law of Ukraine “On public appeals”.

Contacts:

You may send requests to the President of Ukraine to:

11, Bankova str., Kyiv–220, Ukraine, 01220 or 12, Shovkovychna str., Kyiv 01220

Tel.: (044) 291 50 71; (044) 226 20 77

URL: http://www.president.gov.ua/

Information from the official web-site of the President of Ukraine