Frost over the World - Viktor Yushchenko
Frost Over the World

Viktor Yushchenko

The Ukrainian president talks about seeking a second term.

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Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine’s president, came to power after a series of protests [GALLO/GETTY]

In this episode of Frost over the World, Sir David talks to Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian president, as he prepares to run for a second term in his country’s January election. Plus, a bloody month in Pakistan, rock legend Chris Rea and a look at some of the most challenging dilemmas in moral and political philosophy with renowned scholar Michael Sandel.

This episode of Frost over the World aired from Friday, October 23, 2009.

Viktor Yushchenko

 

It was five years ago this month that thousands took to the streets of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, sweeping Viktor Yushchenko into office.

But since then the country has been paralysed by political in-fighting, the economy is deteriorating and relations with Russia are worsening.

Now, Ukraine is preparing for its next presidential election in January and Yushchenko is seeking a second term.

He joins the show from Kiev.

Wesley Clark and Wilfried Martens

 

It has been a bloody week in Pakistan. The Peshawar car bomb on Wednesday brought the number of deaths by militants to more than 200 in October. To discuss this, Sir David is joined by General Wesley Clark, the former supreme commander of Nato.

European leaders meeting in Brussels this weekend were expecting to welcome the Lisbon treaty and anoint the new EU president. But Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president, still has not signed off the new treaty, which leaves plenty of time for the unofficial race for the presidency to continue. Wilfred Martens, the president of the European People’s Party, talks to Sir David about his hopes for the EU.

Chris Rea

 

Over the next few months the rock legend Chris Rea will be bringing out two albums and an autobiography and embarking on a 49-date tour of Europe.

The first of the albums is called Still So Far to Go and is an album of his greatest hits.

He joins the show to talk about his future projects.

Jim Rogers and Michael Sandel

 

Barack Obama, the US president, plans to create a new regulatory council to watch over big financial firms and step in before they collapse. The reform plan is designed to ensure no company is ever again deemed “too big to fail” and that shareholders and bondholders can no longer expect government bailouts. Investor guru, Jim Rogers, joins Sir David from Singapore to talk about the new plan.

Imagine you are the driver of an out-of-control trolley car hurtling at speed towards five workers who are trapped on the line. You can divert the trolley to another line where there is only one worker and save the lives of the other five but it would mean killing him. What should you do? That is the kind of question that Michael Sandel poses to his students at the phenomenally popular course he teaches at Harvard. He joins the show to discuss.