Ukrainian president wants more powers to push through reforms

Kiev: Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich yesterday called for the constitution to be reformed to strengthen his powers and enable him to push through painful and unpopular economic reforms.

Yanukovich, in his first Independence Day speech since taking office in February, said the former Soviet republic needed a new, stable system led by a "strong president".

"I see a renewed Ukraine as a state with a stable political system and I am ready to propose a formula for this to society," he told a gathering of dignitaries in Kiev.

"It means a strong president who has real powers to coordinate and control the implementation of key reform issues and the country's strategic course," Yanukovich said.

"In order to achieve this, we need to reform the constitution thoroughly."

Yanukovich, 60, with financial backing from some of Ukraine's wealthiest businessmen, won a bitter election battle against former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to take office earlier this year.

The political opposition around Tymoshenko seems certain to label his call for greater executive powers as a move towards Russia-style authoritarianism, despite Yanukovich's pledges to keep Ukraine on a democratic path.

Opponents say there are already signs of pressure on media to toe the official line, though Yanukovich said yesterday he would strenuously protect the rights of the free press.

Ukraine curbed presidential powers in favour of parliament through constitutional amendments introduced in 2004 when pro-Western politician Viktor Yushchenko came to power after the "Orange Revolution" street demonstrations.

The curbs, promoted by Yanukovich's supporters at the time, limited Yushchenko's effectiveness as president and set up confrontation with parliament and Tymoshenko, his prime minister.

Yushchenko's downfall

The wrangling paralysed decision-making and ultimately contributed to his downfall in an election earlier this year.

Yanukovich supporters now say his hand should be strengthened so he can push through unpopular reforms such as raising household gas prices and slimming down the bloated pension system.

Many of the reforms have been undertaken under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, which has extended a new $15 billion (Dh55 billion) stand-by facility to Ukraine to help stabilise its economy.