The ‘Chocolate King’ who protesters hope could be new Ukraine prime minister

As Ukraine's political classes began horse trading for a new prime minister, speculation focussed on an activist chocolate billionaire dubbed by one commentator as "a cross between Willy Wonka and Che Guevara".

Petro Poroshenko, an MP and former cabinet minister known as the "Chocolate King" for his confectionary empire, commands widespread respect amongst the public on Independence Square but is also seen as a man whom embattled Viktor Yanukovych could do business with.

A staunch advocate of European integration, Mr Poroshenko is regularly seen handing out chocolate on Independence Square and at the occupied trade union building where the opposition has established its headquarters.

But he also has experience of working with both sides of Ukraine's political divide, having served as foreign minister under former president Viktor Yushchenko and then-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and more recently as trade and economic development minister for Mr Yanukovych.

The 48-year-old has not publicly addressed whether he would be interested in the job.

But in conversations with protesters on Independence Square, Mr Poroshenko's name often comes up as a candidate who would be preferable to any of the three official opposition leaders - if only because his estimated $1.6 billion fortune means he would have no need to enrich himself through corruption.

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The 'Chocolate King' who protesters hope could be new Ukraine prime minister