On Tuesday, Ukraine’s parliament approved with a clear majority the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko, dismissing the country’s entire government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media on Sunday that he had offered Sviridenko a new position. Media reports say she may become Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States.
“I am grateful to Yulia for her clear, stable and effective work as prime minister and for all her years of successful work as part of Team Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. “I offer him the opportunity to play a new important role in relations with an important partner. I hope that together with members of parliament we will make necessary changes to the Ukrainian government.”
Zelensky posted photos of meetings with the head of state-owned energy company Naftogaz Sergei Koretsky, First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denis Shmihal, Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Ukraine cabinet reshuffle
There is much speculation and debate as to why Zelensky is reshuffling the government, which has been in power for less than a year. Ihor Reiterovich, a political scientist at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kiev, told DW that the reshuffle was originally planned for the coming fall or spring. However, Reiterovich said, several recent events have prompted urgent intervention.
Primarily, there is the issue of Ukraine’s current ambassador to the United States: Olga Stefanishina. He is being investigated by Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities in connection with activities prior to his appointment to work in Washington, DC. There are rumors that she is considering resigning. “It’s possible the Americans have signaled that the scandal involving the ambassador is too big for them to handle and something needs to be done,” Reiterovich said. “That’s why Zelensky had to react. Sviridenko is a good candidate; he cooperated well with the Americans on the raw materials agreement and established contacts there. The Americans are willing to work with people with whom they have already worked together.”
Reiterovich said recent scandals involving the armed forces could damage Zelensky’s reputation as commander-in-chief of Ukraine. Investigative reporting has exposed instances of torture, cruel treatment of recruits, and cover-ups of deaths outside combat operations. Also, there are ongoing inspections regarding irregularities in prescriptions and drafts, especially after many active men were found medically unfit for service.
Reiterovich said rotating personnel could help Zelensky divert attention from a number of military issues. He said communication problems with the Cabinet, including Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, could also be a reason for Zelensky’s push for change. Reshuffling the entire government would allow him to remove individuals whose dismissal might otherwise be difficult for image-related reasons.
Zelensky’s power play
Vadim Denisenko, of the analytical unit at the Ukrainian news portal DSNews, said Sviridenko comes from the inner circle of Andrey Yermak, the former head of the President’s Office, who requires obedience within the government. However, in a system without Yermak, Sviridenko became redundant as an executor of policy, even though he remained loyal to Zelensky after Yermak’s departure.
Political scientist Oleksiy Haryan told DW that he believes the government reshuffle is related to Yermak’s resignation. Haran said the President’s Office had tried to strengthen its control over the executive branch through the reshuffle. Haran said, “Zelensky is once again showing who is in charge, contrary to the constitution, because forming a government is the exclusive prerogative of the parliament and must, at least formally, be through the parliament.” He said Zelensky clearly wants to demonstrate that he is working hard and has everything under control.
Haran said another possible reason for the sudden reshuffle could be the need to resolve Ukraine’s energy issues. That’s why Koretsky and Shyamal, both experts in the energy sector, are among the candidates for prime ministership. Observers believe that Koretsky is one of the favorites for the post.
“I don’t think it’s the main reason, but it is an important factor,” Haran said.
Zelensky rewards loyalty
Volodymyr Fesenko of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research told DW that Zelensky often bundles personnel decisions into a larger government package. “It was the same situation last year and it looks like it will be the same this year,” Fesenko said. “It’s not just about a change in government; personnel decisions regarding law enforcement agencies are also planned.”
Denisenko said the reshuffle would represent a broader change in Zelensky’s leadership team.
Reiterovich said that loyalty to Zelensky was the primary factor in the selection of the new prime minister. Despite Ukraine’s parliamentary system, observers DW spoke with largely agree that the legislature will ultimately vote on the candidate chosen by the president. “The aim is to put Parliament back in its place,” Reiterovich said. “It’s just expected to vote for whatever is put in front of it.” However, since all candidates for government positions must be confirmed by the legislature, the Parliament of Ukraine can still assert its independence. If this happens, the current week of the parliamentary session may prove to be quite eventful.
This article was originally written in Ukrainian.