Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh, and First Vice Speaker Viktor Medvedchuk top the September’s list of the most influential Ukrainian politicians. Monthly influence rating for the Ukrainian politicians was compiled by the Kyiv Center for Political and Conflicts Research based on the results of a poll of fifty experts polled in the first week of October. Experts were suggested to estimate the rate of influence of approximately ninety Ukrainian politicians on the economic and political situation in this country in September on a ten point scale. Fourth place is occupied by the head of Our Ukraine electoral block Viktor Yushchenko, fifth by the head of the Presidential Administration Volodymyr Lytvyn, and then leader of the National Salvation Forum Yuliya Tymoshenko. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ivan Pliushch took seventh position, and the leader of the Party of Regions Mykola Azarov eighth. They are followed by the Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko and the head of Unity Party, Kyiv mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko.
Commenting on the poll results, director of the Center Mykhailo Pohrebynsky noted that September was the start of a new political season, the last for the present membership of Verkhovna Rada. Thus, estimating the level of politicians’ influence, the experts might have based their opinions primarily the visible level of their activity reflected in the media. No wonder that Messrs. Kuchma, Kinakh, and Medvedchuk, who was acting speaker during the last month due to Mr. Pliushch’s illness, occupy the first three positions, opined Mr. Pohrebynsky. In his view, Volodymyr Lytvyn’s influence in taking major political decisions was as always underestimated. The rating of SDPU(o) fraction leader Oleksandr Zinchenko has grown significantly.
