Tyhypko resigns post to run for Parliament

Eastern Economist

KYIV - Minister of the Economy Serhii Tyhypko went public with his resignation from the Cabinet of Ministers on May 26. Speaking in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, he said he is running in the Verkhovna Rada by-election on June 25. Mr. Tyhypko is officially on a leave of absence, leaving First Vice Minister of the Economy Viktor Kalnyk in charge of the ministry.

Mr. Tyhypko explained that the relationship between the government and the Verkhovna Rada prompted him to want to become a national deputy in the Verkhovna Rada. "I'm absolutely certain that no matter how intelligent and strong people are in a government, it cannot work effectively until there are better relations with the Parliament's majority," he said. "Today most of the issues are decided in consultations between the president and the parliamentary majority. This is not normal."

He promised at a voters' meeting in Pavlohrad that if elected he would try to implement the concept of a coalition government. The by-elections are being held in 10 electoral districts to fill vacant Verkhovna Rada seats. The Central Election Committee announced that 159 candidates are running; 60 candidates were nominated by political parties and 99 are independents.

Batkivshchyna and the Revival of the Regions nominated six candidates each; the Communists and the Kostenko-chaired Rukh, five each; the Agrarians, Socialists and Udovenko-led Rukh, three each.

CEC Chair Mykhailo Riabets also confirmed Vice Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will not run in the 99th electoral district.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 4, 2000, No. 23, Vol. LXVIII

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