The most influential politician of 2002 was and remains Leonid Kuchma, believes Anatoly Hrytsenko, president of the Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Research. To quote him, the incumbent head of state “is more influential than many of the monarchs.” As Mr. Hrytsenko put it, “The President of Ukraine is an able tactician. He knows how to unseat, divide, and outbalance his opponents. He’s been showing this for many years. His weak point is that he’s a poor strategist.” All the same, the expert is confident the President still has time “to leave a mark on history and not mess up.” In part, according to him, Leonid Kuchma can effect constitutional reform. However, Mr. Hrytsenko believes that Kuchma’s influence will wane with the approach of presidential elections, Korrespondent.net quotes LIGA Agency as saying. The Razumkov Center president named Presidential Administration Head Viktor Medvedchuk the second ranking most influential politician. “He made the most of the current situation. Last in the election race, he won far more than the others,” said the expert. According to Mr. Hrytsenko, “A disappointment of the year” is Our Ukraine leader Viktor Yushchenko. “He hasn’t lived up to expectations. I agree with those who blame Yushchenko for the fact that our polity remains what it is and no qualitative changes have been effected. Thinking people are turning away from him. I believe this has taught him a lesson. He started to show his teeth and act as befits a resolute statesman, for a country cannot be ruled by a weak-willed and spineless politician who avoids important decisions,” believes the expert. He went on to say that “with this in view, he will change. Otherwise, he will be history.”
