Post date: Aug 14, 2013 8:38:15 PM
World boxing champion Vitali Klitschko eyes the Ukrainian presidency in 2015, vowing to fight corruption in the politically divided nation.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 14, 2013) (WORLD BOXING COUNCIL) - Ukrainian heavyweight boxer and opposition politician Vitaly Klitschko will run for president in the 2015 election, the World Boxing Council quoted him as saying at a news conference on Wednesday (August 14).
The move would make him the first declared contender against incumbent Viktor Yanukovich, who is widely expected to seek a second term and, possibly, other opposition leaders.Klitschko told media in Mexico City that he is hoping to bring positive change to the eastern European country.
"Many people want to be the president but most people don't have the chance to be the president. And the main point (is) not to be the president, the main point (is) to make a change in the country," he said.
Pollster Gfk Ukraine said in May that Klitschko had the same level of support as Yanukovich, with each politician backed by 16 percent of voters as a potential presidential candidate.
The boxing champion said he will draw on his experiences in the ring to take on his political rivals.
"I'm a member of the Ukrainian parliament, the third biggest party in Ukraine, we have huge support and yes, of course, thanks for boxing, my boxing gives me, I use exactly the same skills, (to) trust myself, discipline, organisation and build the team, it's team work," he added.
Burdened by debt and facing sluggish economic growth, Klitschko said his pro-Western liberal party, known by its abbreviated name UDAR which means "punch" in Ukrainian, to turnaround the country's fortunes.
"We studied and we developed the plan of reform. What we have to do to beat corruption, push the economy and bring much more investment and our country. We have (an) exact plan, step by step, what we have to do to make changes in our country," added Klitschko.
Klitschko, 42, launched his political career in 2005 by running - unsuccessfully - for mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
In last year's election, the boxing champion's UDAR won 40 seats in Ukraine's 450-seat parliament, making it one of the leading opposition parties.