KIEV, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian President
Viktor Yushchenko appointed the governor of the Kiev Region,
Vera Ulyanchenko, as his new chief of staff on Tuesday, the
president's website said.
Viktor Baloga, who had been Yushchenko's chief of staff
since September 2006, resigned earlier in day in protest at the
president's plans to run for reelection.
Ulyanchenko, 51, has been an ally of Yushchenko since 2000
and was elected head of the political council of the
president's Our Ukraine party on Saturday. She was appointed as
the Kiev Region governor in July 2006.
Baloga, who is believed to have founded the United Center
party to replace Our Ukraine, which is reportedly on the verge
of dissolution, said Yushchenko had "no moral right to stand in
the presidential elections."
"In any case, I will not be your associate in this,"
Baloga was quoted by the party's press service as saying.
Yushchenko said however he saw no "tragedy" in the move.
Yushchenko's approval rating is currently in single
figures and his chief ally in the so-called Orange Revolution,
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, is now his archrival.
She is likely to run in the presidential elections,
expected to take place in late 2009 or early 2010, as is the
pro-Russian leader of the Party of Regions, Viktor Yanukovych.
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