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| Boxer Vitali Klitschko faces toughest fight yet – for Ukrainian parliament | Boxer Vitali Klitschko faces toughest fight yet – for Ukrainian parliament |
| (30 days later) | |
| In one of the world's most combustible parliaments, MPs had better watch out. A putative new member is coming who can do more than look after himself. They call him Dr Ironfist and for good reason: Vitali Klitschko is a heavyweight boxing champion, the first ever to hold a PhD – and not a man to pick a fight with. | In one of the world's most combustible parliaments, MPs had better watch out. A putative new member is coming who can do more than look after himself. They call him Dr Ironfist and for good reason: Vitali Klitschko is a heavyweight boxing champion, the first ever to hold a PhD – and not a man to pick a fight with. |
| After two decades in the ring, the 41-year-old is on his way to perhaps the most bruising challenge of his life – taking on President Viktor Yanukovych and the dominant elite of Ukraine's corrupt political system. | After two decades in the ring, the 41-year-old is on his way to perhaps the most bruising challenge of his life – taking on President Viktor Yanukovych and the dominant elite of Ukraine's corrupt political system. |
| With elections next month and some expecting Klitschko to hang up his gloves after a fight against Manuel Charr this weekend, the boxer appears poised for that most enigmatic of transformations: sports star to politician. | With elections next month and some expecting Klitschko to hang up his gloves after a fight against Manuel Charr this weekend, the boxer appears poised for that most enigmatic of transformations: sports star to politician. |
| "We are trying to make politics more open," Klitschko said in an interview with the Guardian. "It became a Ukrainian tradition to make decisions behind closed doors [but] … we are trying to apply European standards in politics." | "We are trying to make politics more open," Klitschko said in an interview with the Guardian. "It became a Ukrainian tradition to make decisions behind closed doors [but] … we are trying to apply European standards in politics." |
| Having dabbled in local politics for several years, Klitschko has jumped into the ring of national politics and his aptly named party Udar (meaning "punch''). The party is emerging as a third force in Ukrainian politics, with about 11% support – sufficient to secure parliamentary seats and shake up the established parties of Yanukovych and the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. | Having dabbled in local politics for several years, Klitschko has jumped into the ring of national politics and his aptly named party Udar (meaning "punch''). The party is emerging as a third force in Ukrainian politics, with about 11% support – sufficient to secure parliamentary seats and shake up the established parties of Yanukovych and the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. |
| His supporters are known in Ukraine as the "disappointed" – people who don't believe in the authorities or the opposition and feel bitterly let down by the failure of the 2004 Orange revolution to bring lasting change. | His supporters are known in Ukraine as the "disappointed" – people who don't believe in the authorities or the opposition and feel bitterly let down by the failure of the 2004 Orange revolution to bring lasting change. |
| Klitschko, who spent years living and training in Germany, says he takes its political system as an example. | Klitschko, who spent years living and training in Germany, says he takes its political system as an example. |
| "I'm very happy to cooperate with the [German chancellor Angela Merkel's] Christian Democratic Union (CDU)," he said. "And we are trying to build the same structure for our party." | "I'm very happy to cooperate with the [German chancellor Angela Merkel's] Christian Democratic Union (CDU)," he said. "And we are trying to build the same structure for our party." |
| When speaking to journalists, Klitschko can deftly switch from Ukrainian to Russian, English or German, a rare quality for a Ukrainian politician. To prove openness he personally announced the list of his party's candidates during the recent party congress. "Now we have pretty good support from the people. We are the number three party in Ukraine and we are number one in growth of the rating," he said. | When speaking to journalists, Klitschko can deftly switch from Ukrainian to Russian, English or German, a rare quality for a Ukrainian politician. To prove openness he personally announced the list of his party's candidates during the recent party congress. "Now we have pretty good support from the people. We are the number three party in Ukraine and we are number one in growth of the rating," he said. |
| Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said Klitschko's political rise was because he was someone people can be proud of and a Ukrainian who succeeded abroad. "People expect that he could do something like this here, that he would bring part of Germany into this country," Fesenko said. Klitschko has also managed to maintain his reputation without falling into any significant scandal during six years in politics. | Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said Klitschko's political rise was because he was someone people can be proud of and a Ukrainian who succeeded abroad. "People expect that he could do something like this here, that he would bring part of Germany into this country," Fesenko said. Klitschko has also managed to maintain his reputation without falling into any significant scandal during six years in politics. |
| Some observers, however, say Klitschko may be backed by the Ukrainian tycoons, pointing out that several names on his party list have links to the authorities. Klitschko denies these allegations, saying he personally covers a large part of his party's expenses. Klitschko started his political career in 2006 in the Kiev local elections, becoming a member of the city council and head of a bloc in his name. He stood in the elections for Kiev mayor in 2006 and 2008, but lost both times to Leonid Chernovetsky. | Some observers, however, say Klitschko may be backed by the Ukrainian tycoons, pointing out that several names on his party list have links to the authorities. Klitschko denies these allegations, saying he personally covers a large part of his party's expenses. Klitschko started his political career in 2006 in the Kiev local elections, becoming a member of the city council and head of a bloc in his name. He stood in the elections for Kiev mayor in 2006 and 2008, but lost both times to Leonid Chernovetsky. |
| In 2010 he announced the creation of Udar (the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform). Klitschko negotiated with various parties for a coalition in the parliamentary elections but then decided to go his own way, sparking criticism from the opposition camp. Klitschko has said he would be ready to co-operate with the Tymoshenko-led opposition in a future parliament and could even withdraw his candidates from competition in the local districts if other opposition candidates had more chance to win. | In 2010 he announced the creation of Udar (the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform). Klitschko negotiated with various parties for a coalition in the parliamentary elections but then decided to go his own way, sparking criticism from the opposition camp. Klitschko has said he would be ready to co-operate with the Tymoshenko-led opposition in a future parliament and could even withdraw his candidates from competition in the local districts if other opposition candidates had more chance to win. |
| Big-hitting opposition figures found places in Klitschko's list, including a former chief of the SBU secret service, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, who came to Udar after leaving the party of former president Viktor Yushchenko. | Big-hitting opposition figures found places in Klitschko's list, including a former chief of the SBU secret service, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, who came to Udar after leaving the party of former president Viktor Yushchenko. |
| Also on Klitschko's list is the Ukrainian novelist Maria Matios, an important figure in the country and a heroine for the more nationalist-inclined. He said he was an admirer of her books. | Also on Klitschko's list is the Ukrainian novelist Maria Matios, an important figure in the country and a heroine for the more nationalist-inclined. He said he was an admirer of her books. |
| Russian is Klitschko's first language but he surprisingly stepped in to the controversy over the protection of Ukrainian after a language law strengthening the role of Russian was passed in July. The boxer suffered from teargas in clashes between opponents of the law and the police. | Russian is Klitschko's first language but he surprisingly stepped in to the controversy over the protection of Ukrainian after a language law strengthening the role of Russian was passed in July. The boxer suffered from teargas in clashes between opponents of the law and the police. |
| But what of the temptations for a professional boxer sitting in the Ukrainian parliament, a combustible chamber given to occasional bouts of fisticuffs? Here, Dr Ironfist is clear enough, though fellow MPs might not want to take any chances. "I never use my skills outside the ring and hope I will never do that," he said. | But what of the temptations for a professional boxer sitting in the Ukrainian parliament, a combustible chamber given to occasional bouts of fisticuffs? Here, Dr Ironfist is clear enough, though fellow MPs might not want to take any chances. "I never use my skills outside the ring and hope I will never do that," he said. |
| Klitschko said politics and sport require the same skills, such as willpower, responsibility and teamwork. "I'm a big expert in boxing, but in politics I'm a beginner, so I try to use other people's experience," he said. "I read books, I'm not afraid to ask for advice." | Klitschko said politics and sport require the same skills, such as willpower, responsibility and teamwork. "I'm a big expert in boxing, but in politics I'm a beginner, so I try to use other people's experience," he said. "I read books, I'm not afraid to ask for advice." |
| Fesenko said Klitschko's simultaneous sporting and political careers have delayed his development as a political leader. "He hasn't fully become a politician," the analyst said, adding Klitschko still lacked the skills of political debate, which he would develop faster if he stopped boxing. | Fesenko said Klitschko's simultaneous sporting and political careers have delayed his development as a political leader. "He hasn't fully become a politician," the analyst said, adding Klitschko still lacked the skills of political debate, which he would develop faster if he stopped boxing. |
| Klitschko refused to say if he was planning to leave professional boxing after the parliamentary elections, although in May he wrote on his Facebook page that he was intending to hang up his gloves. | Klitschko refused to say if he was planning to leave professional boxing after the parliamentary elections, although in May he wrote on his Facebook page that he was intending to hang up his gloves. |
| After leaving sport, Klitschko may aim at another political target – the presidency. "Many people want to be the president, many people. But it's not enough. If some candidate doesn't have support of people it's no more than a wish," he said. | After leaving sport, Klitschko may aim at another political target – the presidency. "Many people want to be the president, many people. But it's not enough. If some candidate doesn't have support of people it's no more than a wish," he said. |
| But Klitschko is cautious about the chances of him standing in 2015 when the next Ukrainian presidential elections are to be held. "If we come a little bit closer to 2015, I'll be ready talk about this more," he said. "Now we are concentrating our work on the parliamentary elections." | But Klitschko is cautious about the chances of him standing in 2015 when the next Ukrainian presidential elections are to be held. "If we come a little bit closer to 2015, I'll be ready talk about this more," he said. "Now we are concentrating our work on the parliamentary elections." |
| The Shevchenko connection | The Shevchenko connection |
| Sportsmen turned politicians do not generally have a good record (Manny Pacquiao, Imran Khan, George Weah to name a few). But it's still a popular retirement choice for athletes nearing the end of their competitive careers. | Sportsmen turned politicians do not generally have a good record (Manny Pacquiao, Imran Khan, George Weah to name a few). But it's still a popular retirement choice for athletes nearing the end of their competitive careers. |
| Klitschko is not even the only Ukrainian making the switch. The country's best-known footballer, Andriy Shevchenko, has recently announced his intention to go into politics. | Klitschko is not even the only Ukrainian making the switch. The country's best-known footballer, Andriy Shevchenko, has recently announced his intention to go into politics. |
| Shevchenko is friends with Klitschko – but is not joining his party because having "two great sportsmen in one party would be too many". | Shevchenko is friends with Klitschko – but is not joining his party because having "two great sportsmen in one party would be too many". |
| Klitschko appeared baffled by Shevchenko's move. "I know Andriy very well. I spoke to him about politics and he never showed interest to it." "I'm very scared if somebody tries to use him [Shevchenko]," he said. "It would be a disaster for his name, for his reputation." | Klitschko appeared baffled by Shevchenko's move. "I know Andriy very well. I spoke to him about politics and he never showed interest to it." "I'm very scared if somebody tries to use him [Shevchenko]," he said. "It would be a disaster for his name, for his reputation." |
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