Ukraine central bank post in political limbo as Gontareva leaves

FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's Central Bank Governor Valeria Gontareva attends a news conference in Kiev, Ukraine, April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Central Bank Governor Valeria Gontareva will leave her job on Thursday, leaving her deputy in charge, the central bank said, setting the stage for potentially protracted negotiations between president and parliament on her replacement.

Praised by the International Monetary Fund and some investors for her reforms of the banking system, Gontareva, a former investment banker and business partner of President Petro Poroshenko, tendered her resignation a month ago after a sustained campaign against her from protesters and lawmakers.