President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine is the head of state and the guarantor of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. The office was established with the country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, with its powers and role defined by the Constitution of Ukraine. The president serves as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and represents the nation in international relations.

History

The presidency emerged from the office of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada following the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine and the 1991 Ukrainian independence referendum. The first holder, Leonid Kravchuk, was elected shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The position's constitutional powers were significantly reshaped by the Constitution of Ukraine adopted in 1996 and later amendments, including those during the Orange Revolution which shifted some authority to the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The Revolution of Dignity in 2014 led to the removal of Viktor Yanukovych and subsequent elections during a period of conflict with the Russian Federation, including the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas.

Election and term

The president is elected by direct election through a two-round system for a five-year term, as stipulated in the Constitution of Ukraine. A candidate must secure an absolute majority; if no one achieves this in the first round, a runoff election is held between the two top contenders. The election process is administered by the Central Election Commission of Ukraine. An individual may serve no more than two consecutive terms, a rule reinforced after the 2014 Ukrainian constitutional crisis. Notable electoral contests include the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election and the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election.

Powers and duties

Constitutional powers include being the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, leading the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, and appointing its secretary. The president nominates the Prime Minister of Ukraine for parliamentary approval, as well as the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the head of the Security Service of Ukraine. Other duties include granting pardons in Ukraine, conferring state awards of Ukraine, and signing laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada. In foreign policy, the president conducts negotiations and signs international treaties of Ukraine, representing the nation in bodies like the European Council and the United Nations General Assembly.

List of presidents

Since independence, Ukraine has had six presidents. Leonid Kravchuk served as the first president from 1991 to 1994, followed by Leonid Kuchma who served two terms. The Orange Revolution brought Viktor Yushchenko to power in 2005, succeeded by Viktor Yanukovych in 2010. Following the Revolution of Dignity, Oleksandr Turchynov acted as interim president in 2014 before Petro Poroshenko was elected. The current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was inaugurated in May 2019 after a career in Kvartal 95 and won a second term during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Official residences and symbols

The primary official residence and ceremonial workplace is the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, a Baroque-style palace. The main administrative headquarters is located at 11 Bankova Street, often called the Bankova compound. Other residences include the House with Chimaeras and the Presidential Administration of Ukraine building. The official symbol is the Standard of the President of Ukraine, which features the Tryzub and the text "President of Ukraine". The president also utilizes the state aircraft, often an Antonov An-74, and the presidential motorcade for travel.

Category:Presidents of Ukraine Category:Heads of state in Europe