Yulia Tymoshenko rules out running for prime minister of Ukraine
Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko's speech yesterday in Kiev's Independence Square has raised speculation that she might be planning a return to power.
But according to her website, the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party leader "has asked not to be considered for the post of prime minister of Ukraine".
"I was surprised to learn that I’m being considered for the position of prime minister of Ukraine," she said. "Nobody discussed this issue with me. Thank you for the compliment, but please do not consider my candidacy for the post of head of government."
In her emotional speech yesterday, Tymoshenko urged demonstrators to continue their protest.
After being released from prison, she spoke from a wheelchair due to extreme back pain.
Tymoshenko was prime minister in 2005 and from 2007 to 2010. Prior to that, she was was a businesswoman and an economist, leading the Orange Revolution alongside then-future president Viktor Yuschenko.
The two had a falling-out with Yuschenko dismissing her government in 2005.
After returning as prime minister in 2007, she began negotiating a gas deal with Russia.
Tymoschenko lost the presidential election to the pro-Russian Victor Yanukovych in 2010. She was later charged with over-reaching her powers in the negotiations over the gas contract.
That led to criticism of "selective justice" from many western industrialized countries, as well as from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in jail in 2011 and was only freed as a result of demands from the Ukrainian parliament.
Parliament has scheduled new elections on May 25 and passed a motion demanding the resignation of Yanukovych.
Meanwhile, Yanukovych has abandoned the presidential palace in Kiev and claimed in a statement from eastern Ukraine that a coup was taking place.
The Guardian has reported that people living in the largely pro-Russian eastern part of Ukraine are "furious" over what's happened.
This has raised the prospect of a separatist movement arising, with several pro-Russian rallies planned for today.
Russia Today has reported that 77 people have been killed in recent violence in Ukraine.
Comments
3 Comments
400pm
Feb 23, 2014 at 6:58pm
Five nuclear power plants and how many nuclear weapons in a country with no government.
Canada wins gold!!
Bill Barilko
Feb 23, 2014 at 10:37pm
Nothing is official until it's been denied.
sicntired.
Feb 24, 2014 at 1:06am
Right after her speech the rabble in Madan made it very clear that it was never their intention to give her the impression she was wanted for anything political.The west has it's way and the rest of the country wants out.The fascists have made their voices heard already with the new language law.This was a coup,sponsored by the US and EU.Now Russia has recalled it's ambassador and withdrawn the bailout money.The country could well split up over this.It remains to be seen who will lead and whether or not the alliance of opposition forces can be maintained until an election can be arranged.The people in the eastern Ukraine feel they have had their votes nullified by a rabble of violent anti russia thugs and they have a case.The people in the street didn't listen to any opposition politicians before and they will probably not listen now.They will certainly not return home from the streets until they exhaust their anger and frustration.They will wind up being disappointed by whoever takes power eventually.The people of the world have seen now that taking to the street actually works to unseat unpopular politicians.With the current state of the world it's unlikely that any politician will be able to deliver the kind of change the people desire.This was actually a victory for corporations and their interests.It can't possibly be good for the average person.