President of Ukraine – information card

President of Ukraine

The powers of the President of Ukraine are stipulated by Chapter V of the Constitution of Ukraine, which defines the rights and responsibilities of the President as Head of State, the election procedure, and provides for the possibility of his/her dismissal from office and termination of his/her powers.

President is due to prevent any actions of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of power that directly or indirectly infringe the fundamental Law of Ukraine. With the aim of fulfilling this duty the President is vested with corresponding authorities. He is empowered to suspend decisions of government bodies and veto laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada.

President is the Guarantor of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In these terms his powers are stipulated by Article 102 of the Constitution of Ukraine and impose on him the duty to make decisions and act in order to defend and consolidate the state sovereignty, to secure the integrity and inviolability of Ukraine’s territory within the limits of the existing borders.

According to Article 102 of the Constitution of Ukraine, as the Guarantor of citizens’ rights and freedoms, the President is empowered to revoke acts of government bodies and branches of power in order to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms.

Presidential powers within domestic policy are stipulated by Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine. According to the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine the President of Ukraine issues decrees and orders, which are binding on the territory of Ukraine. President cooperates with all branches of power, appoints and dismisses Government officials and executive authorities, attends the Government’s meetings and has his/her representatives in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada.

In terms of foreign policy the Presidential powers are stipulated by Article 102 and 106 (items 3, 4 and 5) of the Constitution of Ukraine. The President as Head of State acts on behalf of Ukraine, represents Ukraine on the international scene, negotiates and signs international treaties and is in charge of foreign policy of the state.

President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine. In the event of an armed aggression against Ukraine, the President makes decisions on the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. President heads the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Biography

Viktor Yanukovych

Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych was born on July 9, 1950 in Yenakiyeve, Donetsk region.

He graduated from Donetsk Polytechnic Institute (now Donetsk State Technical University) in 1980 with a major in Mechanical Engineering. He obtained  Master’s Degree in International Law at the Ukrainian Academy of Foreign Trade in 2001.

Viktor Yanukovych is a member of the Academy of Economic Sciences of Ukraine, PhD in Economics

He holds  awards “For Merit” of the first, second and third degrees, Honored Transport Worker of Ukraine.

Viktor Yanukovych’s core public activity is being the Honorary Leader of the Party of Regions

He is married to Lyudmyla Yanukovych.

He was elected deputy of Donetsk Regional Council (1999), people’s deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the fifth convocation (2006), people’s deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the sixth convocation (2007).

Viktor Yanukovych was elected the President of Ukraine by the results of national vote on February 7, 2010.

On February 25 he swore the oath of the President of Ukraine.

History of Presidency

Translated from Latin, the word "president" means "sitting ahead." The development of this political institution started at the end of the 18th century and coincided with the appearance of the first democratic systems in the countries of the Old and New Worlds. In the 18-20th centuries, the institution of presidency became an integral part of the republican form of government and an important feature of the democratic system.

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