Kyiv, 16 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - The Ukrainian Parliament today confirmed Valery Pustovoitenko as the country's new Prime Minister.
Deputies approved Pustovoitenko's nomination by 226 to 91 votes. The 50-year old minister without portfolio was nominated by President Leonid Kuchma, whose presidential election campaign he organized in 1994.
Pustovoitenko replaces Pavlo Lazarenko, who resigned at the beginning of this month, citing health reasons.
Before the parliamentary session Pustovoitenko said that once coinfirmed in office, the country would go on with radical economic reforms.
Kuchma, praising the result of the vote, later told reporters that parliament would be more involved in the formation of the new government. Kuchma however declined to say what changes he intended to make in the cabinet.
Deputies approved Pustovoitenko's nomination by 226 to 91 votes. The 50-year old minister without portfolio was nominated by President Leonid Kuchma, whose presidential election campaign he organized in 1994.
Pustovoitenko replaces Pavlo Lazarenko, who resigned at the beginning of this month, citing health reasons.
Before the parliamentary session Pustovoitenko said that once coinfirmed in office, the country would go on with radical economic reforms.
Kuchma, praising the result of the vote, later told reporters that parliament would be more involved in the formation of the new government. Kuchma however declined to say what changes he intended to make in the cabinet.