Prime Minister of Ukraine
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The Prime Minister of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Прем'єр-міністр України) presides over the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which is the top body of the executive branch of the Ukrainian government.
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Appointment and dismissal
The PM is appointed by the President upon the ratification of the candidate by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament).
As a rule, the ratification is preceded by several days of comprehensive consultations and interviews of the candidate by the parliamentary factions. The approval by the legislature is not a mere formality. Some candidates were ratified by narrow margin and a candidate may be turned down. For instance, in 1999, Valeriy Pustovoytenko fell short of 3 votes to be re-confirmed after he tendered his resignation at the second inauguration of President Kuchma. Kuchma chose Viktor Yushchenko as his alternate candidate. Another example is the ratification of Yuriy Yekhanurov. He was short of 3 votes to get ratified and was confirmed on the second attempt 2 days later.
The PM, as well as any other Cabinet member, may resign voluntarily by tendering the resignation to the President. After the adoption of the current Constitution of Ukraine, only Pavlo Lazarenko lost his post this way. As a rule the PM is dismissed unilaterally by the President.
In addition, the Verkhovna Rada may pass a resolution of no confidence in the Cabinet, which must result in the PM's resignation. However, the parliament cannot put the resolution on vote within one year after the approval of the Cabinet's programme. The parliament dismissed the Cabinets of Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych. The latter refused to tender his resignation to the President claiming a violation of the one-year period condition.
Authority
The Prime Minister manages the work of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and signs the acts of the Cabinet.
If the post of the President becomes vacant, the Prime Minister serves as interim acting President.
Prime ministers' terms in office
| Name | Dates as Acting PM before ratification | Dates in office | Dates as Acting PM after resignation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitaliy Masol | 1990-06-28– 1990-10-17 | 1990-10-17– 1990-10-23 | Resigned as a result of student protests in Kyiv. | |
| Vitold Fokin | 1990-10-23– 1990-11-14 | 1990-11-14– 1992-10-01 | Resigned as a result of retirement. | |
| Valentyn Symonenko | 1992-10-02– 1992-10-13 | Acting Prime Minister | ||
| Leonid Kuchma | 1992-10-13– 1993-09-21 | Submitted resignation to the parliament. | ||
| Yukhym Zvyahilsky | 1993-09-22– 1994-06-15 | Acting Prime Minister On 1993-09-27, President Kravchuk assumed direct control of the Cabinet until 1994-06. | ||
| Vitaliy Masol | 1994-06-16– 1995-03-06 | On leave: 1995-03-06– 1995-04-04. Resigned as a result of retirement. On 1995-04-04, a resolution of non-confidence was passed by the parliament. | ||
| Yevhen Marchuk | 1995-03-06– 1995-06-07 | 1995-06-08– 1996-05-27 | Appointed (edict) and dismissed (edict) unilaterally by President Kuchma. | |
| Pavlo Lazarenko | 1996-05-28– 1997-06-18 | Appointed unilaterally by President Kuchma. On alleged sickness leave from 1997-06-19 to 1997-07-02, when his resignation was accepted. | ||
| Vasyl Durdynets | 1997-06-19– 1997-07-16 | Acting Prime Minister | ||
| Valeriy Pustovoytenko | 1997-07-16– 1999-11-30 | 1999-11-30– 1999-12-22 | Resigned according to the Constitution of Ukraine at President Kuchma's second inauguration. | |
| Viktor Yushchenko | 1999-12-22– 2001-04-26 | 2001-04-28– 2001-05-29 | Resigned as a result of a resolution of no confidence. | |
| Anatoliy Kinakh | 2001-05-29– 2002-11-16 | 2001-11-16– 2002-11-21 | Dismissed by President Kuchma | |
| Viktor Yanukovych | 2002-11-21– 2004-12-07 | The legality of his tenure past 2004-12-01, when the parliament passed a resolution of no confidence, has been disputed. | ||
| Mykola Azarov | 2004-12-07– 2004-12-28 | Acting Prime Minister during Yanukovych's leave of absence. | ||
| Viktor Yanukovych | 2004-12-28– 2005-01-05 | Announced his resignation on 2004-12-31. | ||
| Mykola Azarov | 2005-01-05– 2005-01-24 | Acting Prime Minister. Announced resignation of the Cabinet according to the Constitution of Ukraine at President Yushchenko's inauguration | ||
| Yuliya Tymoshenko | 2005-01-24– 2005-02-04 | 2005-02-04– 2005-09-08 | Ratified by a record number of 373 ayes (226 needed). Dismissed by President Viktor Yuschenko: Edict. | |
| Yuriy Yehanurov | 2005-09-08– 2005-09-21 | 2005-09-22– 2006-01-10 | 2006-01-10– | Ratified by the parliament on second attempt (289 ayes). In the first attempt (2005-09-20), Mr. Yekhanurov fell short of 3 votes (223 ayes, 226 needed). Dismissed by the parliament under new constitutional rules: Act. |
