Yushchenko Reappoints Pynzenyk, Names Bondar Transportation Minister

KIEV, Ukraine -- President Viktor Yushchenko re-appointed Viktor Pynzenyk as the finance minister and appointed Viktor Bondar as the transportation minister to replace Yevhen Chervonenko, a close ally of Yushchenko, the presidential press service reported.


Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk
The latest appointments, which come a day later than most of other appointments, show they may be politically motivated as Yushchenko has been carefully screening the candidates.

By re-appointing the finance minister Yushchenko has been apparently seeking to win support of Pynzenyk's party, the Reforms and Order Party, ahead of the March 2006 election and to prevent its alliance with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

After the re-appointment Pynzenyk issued a statement where he had called on his party fellows to stop the split and to back Yushchenko.

"We came with Viktor Yushchenko not to spread hostilities, but to jointly with him overcome a difficult heritage of social problems and to build a new [society]," Pynzenyk said. "I stay to collect the stones. Let God stop those who seek to throw the stones."

Mykola Tomenko, a member of the Reforms and Order and an ardent backer of Tymoshenko, said recently that Pynzenyk will have to quit the post of the party leader if he stays in the government.

However, other party members said the matter had not been yet decided and suggested a party congress later this year may still vote to support Yushchenko, not Tymoshenko.

Yushchenko fired Tymoshenko Sept. 8 amid a wave of mutual accusations of corruption between supporters of Yushchenko and Tymoshenko.

By replacing Chervonenko, Yushchenko has been apparently responding to allegations that the former transportation minister, formerly a wealthy businessman, may have maintained hidden links to business.

Although Chervonenko repeatedly denied having any links with any businesses, the allegations could still spoil Yushchenko's party performance ahead of the vote, analysts said.

Bondar, 30, is the youngest member of the government. Until his latest appointment, Bondar worked as the first deputy transportation minister.

Yushchenko also appointed Pavlo Kachur as the construction and architecture minister.

Source: Ukrainian Journal