Four key factors that influenced the life of Ukraine in 20101. A further extension of the presidential power

The political event that has best illustrated the ambitions of President Viktor Yanukovych and the Party of Regions was the return of presidential powers to the level stipulated in the Constitution of 1996 by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine on Oct. 1. Thus, through the Constitutional Court, which under the current regime plays the role of legitimizer to the actions of the president and his administration, Yanukovych received all powers granted to "strong" President Leonid Kuchma with some adaptations progressing towards a new vertical of power in Ukraine.