Vladimir Fischer

Date of Birth: 03.10.1946

Vladimir Vasilievich Fischer - Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine (2012-2014), Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine (2007), Minister of Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine (2006-2007), Member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th convocations. Mayor of Donetsk (1993-2002).

One of the co-founders of the 'Regions' party. Part of the leadership team of the party in various positions.

Place of Birth. Education. Born in Donetsk as the son of a worker. In 1965, he graduated from the Yassinovatka Construction College, served in the military, and entered Donetsk State University as an economist. In 1973, he graduated as an industrial specialist. In 1982, he graduated from the Higher Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Fischer is one of the most well-known and respected figures in the Donetsk region. He began his career (1968-1976) in various executive positions in construction companies. From 1976 to 1988 - 'in state and party work'. From 1988 to 1992, he was the chairman of the Rayon Council and the executive committee of the Kirov Rayon in Donetsk. For another year, he worked as the first deputy mayor of Donetsk, then he was continuously the mayor and chairman of the city council of the 'Mining Capital' until 2002.

The former mayor of Donetsk is one of the founding fathers of the 'Regions' party. In October 1997, Fischer was elected chairman of the newly formed Party of Regional Revival of Ukraine (PRWU) at the founding congress. In November 2000, he was elected deputy chairman of the uniting party of the regional revival of the Solidarity of Ukraine at the unification congress of five parties - the Labor Party, the Solidarity Party of Ukraine, the Political Party for a Beautiful Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Party of Pensioners, and the PRWU - which was renamed the Party of Regions in March 2001. He was the deputy party leader of Viktor Yanukovych. A long-time associate of the former Prime Minister.

Vladimir Fischer was five times a deputy of the Ukrainian Parliament - the III, IV, V, VI, and VII convocations. A steadfast member of the 'Regions' faction. He served on the committee for state administration and local self-government as well as on the committee for foreign affairs. After the 2006 elections, he was briefly the deputy chairman of the PR parliamentary faction.

In August 2006, the parliament appointed Fischer as Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing in Yanukovych's government (in March 2007, he lost the 'Minister' title after the establishment of two new ministries - for Housing and Regional Development and Construction, which were headed by Alexander Popov and Volodymyr Yasbuba respectively). Fischer was responsible for construction, housing policy, and the implementation of administrative reform.

In 2010, after Yanukovych became President of Ukraine, Fischer could not hold an executive position but took the position of first deputy chairman of the Party of Regions.

On December 13, 2012, he was elected chairman of the parliament of the VII convocation.

During the political crisis in Ukraine in 2013-2014, he submitted his resignation on February 21, 2014. On February 22, 2014, President Yanukovych stated in an interview that Vladimir Fischer was beaten by supporters of Euromaidan on February 21 and his car was shot at. On February 23, 2014, Vladimir Fischer denied this version of the president.

On February 22, 2014, he resigned as chairman of the parliament. In a statement read at the plenary session by the first deputy speaker, it was stated that this decision was made 'due to illness and treatment' of Fischer. Alexander Turchinov took over as his successor in this position.

First deputy chairman of the Party of Regions. From February 28, 2014 - acting chairman of the party. On March 29, 2014, after the title of 'honorary leader' was canceled, the position of 'executive chairman' was renamed to lead the party.

Views and evaluations. Before the appointment of Yanukovych's second government, the former mayor of Donetsk said in an interview: 'I want to believe that we can really achieve concrete results, also because the people who are recommended for the cabinet have already earned enough money'.

In January 2007, the Vice Prime Minister stated that the price per square meter of real estate in the primary market in Kiev is $600, while the average market price is $1500. However, he does not believe that a price decline should be expected in the near future. In Fischer's opinion, it is planned to prepare a new version of the housing code that will be attractive for investors.

Regarding the increase in housing and communal service tariffs, Fischer stated that the main problem is not in the increase but in the fact that they occur in a non-transparent and too drastic manner in some places (like in Kiev), and the procedure for granting subsidies is too bureaucratic and humiliating. He called for the development of competition in the market for providing housing and communal services.

Fischer has repeatedly emphasized that he has always been against mono-colored coalitions - 'orange or blue', and discussions about the formation of a broad coalition.