President of Ukraine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of Ukraine |
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Presidential standard
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| Executive branch of the Ukrainian Government Office of the President |
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| Style | Mr. President (informal) Supreme Commander–in–Chief (military) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Member of | National Security and Defense Council |
| Residence | Mariinskyi Palace (ceremonial) 13 other available for use |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Term length | Five years,
renewable once consecutively
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Ukraine (1996) |
| Formation | 5 December 1991 (first established) 28 June 1996 (legal status defined) |
| First holder | Leonid Kravchuk |
| Deputy | Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada |
| Salary | ₴336,000 or US$12,300 per annum est. (2016) |
The President of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Президент України, romanized: Prezydent Ukrainy) is the head of state for Ukraine. This means the president is the main representative of the country. The president handles Ukraine's relationships with other countries. They also make sure international agreements are followed.
Ukrainian citizens vote directly for their president. A president serves for five years. They can be elected for a second term right after their first.
The president's main home is the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv. Other official homes are the House with Chimaeras and the House of the Weeping Widow. These are used for important visits from foreign leaders. The Office of the President of Ukraine helps the president with daily tasks. It is often called "Bankova" because of the street it is on.
Since the office began on December 5, 1991, Ukraine has had six presidents. Leonid Kravchuk was the first president. He served from 1991 to 1994. Leonid Kuchma was the only president to serve two terms in a row. Other presidents include Viktor Yushchenko, Petro Poroshenko, and Viktor Yanukovych. After Viktor Yanukovych, Oleksandr Turchynov became the acting president. He was the only acting president in Ukraine's modern history. An acting president has limited powers.
Ukraine has a special government system. It is called a semi-presidential system. This means the head of state (the president) and the head of government (the prime minister) are separate. Both the president and the prime minister have important roles. The president must approve the prime minister's appointment. This makes the president's role seem more powerful.
The current president is Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He took office on May 20, 2019. Because of martial law, elections in Ukraine are currently paused.
Contents
- President's Role and Powers
- History of the Presidency
- How a President is Elected
- Taking Office and Term Length
- President's Responsibilities
- Removing a President from Office
- What Happens if the President Cannot Serve?
- Presidential Privileges
- Presidential Awards
- List of Presidents
- Images for kids
- See also
President's Role and Powers
The president is also the top commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They lead the National Security and Defence Council. This council gives advice on national security and defense. The president makes sure Ukraine's independence and borders are safe. They also protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.
The president has ways to check the power of the parliament and courts. For example, the president can stop a law passed by parliament. But parliament can still pass the law if two-thirds of its members agree. The president can also suggest who should be the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence. The president also appoints some judges to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
People in Ukraine sometimes ask the president for help with their personal problems. In 2012, the president received thousands of letters each month.
History of the Presidency
Early Leaders
Before the modern presidency, Ukraine had different leaders. In the early 1900s, during the Ukrainian People's Republic, the leader was the president of the Central Rada. Mykhailo Hrushevsky was the first person to hold this role. Later, leaders like Pavlo Skoropadskyi, Volodymyr Vynnychenko, and Symon Petliura led the country. These leaders did not officially have the title "president."
Presidents in Exile
After the Ukrainian War of Independence, the Ukrainian People's Republic government had to leave Ukraine. They continued to act as a government from other countries. This was called being "in exile." In 1948, Andriy Livytskyi created the official office of the president of Ukraine in exile. He was the first president in exile.
Mykola Plaviuk was the last president in exile. In 1992, he officially gave his powers to the newly elected Ukrainian president, Leonid Kravchuk. This showed that the new Ukrainian state was connected to the older Ukrainian People's Republic.
Modern Presidents
The modern office of the President of Ukraine was created on July 5, 1991. This happened when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union. After Ukraine became independent on August 24, 1991, the title became "President of Ukraine."
There have been seven presidential elections since 1991.
- In 1991, Leonid Kravchuk became the first president. He was elected by a record number of voters.
- In 1994, Leonid Kuchma won the election. He was re-elected in 1999.
- The 2004 election was controversial. After many protests, known as the "Orange Revolution," a new election was held. Viktor Yushchenko won and became president in 2005.
- In 2010, Viktor Yanukovych was elected president.
- In early 2014, Yanukovych was removed from power. Oleksandr Turchynov became the acting president. He served until June 2014.
- In 2014, Petro Poroshenko won the election. He became president in June 2014.
- In 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected president. He was a former actor and comedian. He won with a very high percentage of votes.
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Petro Poroshenko
Yulia Tymoshenko
Yuriy Boyko
Election was not held due to the war in Donbas or annexation by Russia
How a President is Elected
Ukrainian citizens who are 18 or older can vote for president. The president is elected for a five-year term. They can serve a maximum of two terms in a row.
To win, a candidate must get more than half of all votes. If no one wins in the first round, the top two candidates have a second vote. This is called a run-off.
To become president, a person must be a Ukrainian citizen. They must be at least 35 years old. They also need to have lived in Ukraine for the past 10 years. They must speak the Ukrainian language well.
Candidates must pay a deposit to run for president. This money is returned only if they make it to the second round of voting. The last presidential elections were held on April 21, 2019.
Taking Office and Term Length
A new president takes office within 30 days after the election results are announced. They take an oath to the people. This happens at a special meeting of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
The head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine leads the oath ceremony. The president-elect places their hand on the Constitution and a special book called the Peresopnytsia Gospel. They then say the oath.
The oath promises to protect Ukraine's independence. It also promises to care for the country and its people. The president promises to protect citizens' rights and follow the Constitution.
President's Responsibilities
The president makes sure Ukraine stays independent. They also protect human rights and freedoms. The president is the top commander of the military.
The president suggests who should be the Prime Minister. The parliament then votes to approve this choice. The president must sign laws passed by parliament for them to become official. The president can also create special groups to help them.
The president represents Ukraine to other countries. They can talk with other leaders and sign agreements for Ukraine. The president decides which foreign countries Ukraine recognizes. They also appoint Ukraine's ambassadors to other nations.
The president can stop laws passed by parliament if they disagree. This is part of the system of checks and balances. The president can also sometimes dissolve parliament and call for new elections. This power has been used twice.
The president can also appoint some judges and other important officials. They can also grant pardons to people. This means they can forgive someone for a crime.
Removing a President from Office
To remove a president from office, a process called impeachment is used. This can happen if the president is suspected of serious crimes like treason.
First, a majority of parliament members must agree to start the impeachment process. Then, a special group investigates the accusations. If two-thirds of parliament members agree, the impeachment process moves forward. To actually remove the president, three-quarters of parliament members must vote for it. The courts also review the decisions.
What Happens if the President Cannot Serve?
If a president dies or cannot do their job, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (the head of parliament) becomes the acting president. This person serves until a new president is elected.
However, an acting president has fewer powers. They cannot make big decisions like dissolving parliament or granting pardons.
Presidential Privileges
Being president comes with many special benefits. The president has full legal protection from lawsuits while in office. Their title, "President of Ukraine," is protected by law for their entire life.
The president's personal safety is handled by special security teams. The president also has access to special airplanes for official travel.
Official Buildings
The Office of the President of Ukraine helps the president with their work. It is often called "Bankova" because of its location. The president has many official homes. The Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv is used for ceremonies. Other homes include the House with Chimaeras and the House of the Weeping Widow. These are used for foreign visitors.
Former presidents are also given a state-owned house after their term ends.
Official Symbols
The president has several official symbols. These include the presidential standard (a special flag), the presidential seal, and the presidential collar. There is also the bulava of the president of Ukraine, which is a ceremonial mace. These symbols are kept in the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine.
First Lady
The president's spouse is known as the First Lady. This title does not come with official duties. However, some First Ladies, like Kateryna Yushchenko, have received a lot of public attention.
Presidential Awards
The president can award an "Honorary Weapon." This is a special pistol given to people for their service. The awardee's name is engraved on it. This award began in 1995.
List of Presidents
Timeline (since 1991)
Images for kids
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Presidential Ukraine Air Enterprise Il-62
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The facade of the Mariinskyi Palace, the president's ceremonial residence
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The House with Chimaeras is located across from the presidential administration.
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The House of the Weeping Widow is used to house official state visitors.
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See also
In Spanish: Presidente de Ucrania para niños
- List of leaders of Ukraine
- Separate Presidential Brigade
