The discussions and squabbles around the possible resignation of Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk and the government have lasted for months on end. Social networks and mass media are regularly shaken with endless speculations and fake news, but the key question remains: the formation of a proper, quality alternative to the incumbent government cohort. A variety of names have been mentioned, from speaker Volodymyr Hroisman to Lviv’s mayor Andrii Sadovy to Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko. Sviatoslav Tseholko, press secretary to the President of Ukraine, said that Petro Poroshenko is prepared to work with any prime minister proposed by the parliament and endorsed by 226 MPs. Besides, according to Tseholko, the president believes a new coalition needs to be created.
Now the discussion is about the nature of the eventual new government: should it be technocratic (Jaresko) or political (Sadovy)? The Petro Poroshenko Bloc (PPB) has published its position: it would support “a new technocratic prime minister, who would do constructive work instead of everyday self-promotion, and would stop inciting antagonism between branches of power.” Unfortunately, experts argue that neither the incumbent government nor their supposed alternative counterparts will be able to solve the deep crisis of confidence in government.
The unprecedented in its baseness campaign against Yatseniuk, featuring lots of derisive billboards in the run-up to the government’s report on December 11, 2015 showed that the key motif of claims against the prime minister is not a constructive vision of the necessity of overdue reforms (where the incumbent government has nothing to show), but an absolutely selfish struggle for influence. Truth be said, even in such circumstances the Verkhovna Rada failed to dismiss the current Cabinet of Ministers. In particular, because a dramatic shift in conjuncture now threatens the parliament self with an early election, and not only with the formation of a new coalition.
This struggle for influence, which is publicized as a show, reveals the crisis which struck not only the Cabinet, but also the parliament and government as a whole. The kaleidoscope of media events shows that the latter is clearly unable to follow one and only state-building vector. For government, the war has become a pretext to justify all the troubles and problems, while the political Olympus has turned into a political talk show invoking “the necessity of reforms,” “fighting corruption,” and “lustration.” The outcome of this ritual show is as follows: the reforms are nowhere to be seen, corruption has found an even wider foothold and is flourishing, while lustration misfired with eliminating professionals from state management at a moment of crisis.
CONSULTATIONS. SERHII TARUTA, “COORDINATOR OF UKRAINIAN OLIGARCHS” (LEFT), FATHERLAND LEADER YULIA TYMOSHENKO, AND ANDRII KOZHEMIAKIN, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT / Photo by Ruslan KANIUKA, The Day
The Day’s source in PPB said the following about the possible appointments: “The president did offer prime ministership to Sadovy, and he also spoke with Jaresko. Sadovy refused. As for Volodymyr Hroisman, the faction sees him as the most probable candidate, but there has been no voting and the discussion was very superficial.”
People’s Front will fight tooth and claw and will stop at nothing. This party does not really worry about how the country will perceive them: it is only one personality that matters. Moreover, it does not even look like political struggle anymore, or the proposing of new political platforms: it is pure blackmailing, cynical and bold-faced,” said the MP.
In his turn, a spokesperson for Fatherland explained: “In People’s Front they tried to haggle over other candidates, for instance, Turchynov, but they are too afraid to do it while Yatseniuk is still in power – although I think that they have already said goodbye to him. I think that no one, not even the president, wants to see Jaresko as prime minister, because in this case the country would find itself under external rule: her patrons will speak with everyone personally to find their weak spots. As far as Hroisman is concerned, there is no consensus either. All in all, now it is pointless to discuss candidates for prime ministership: we should expect an early election. This is the current parliament’s problem, they cannot find a consensus. And even if they should accept a certain imposed candidate, they will not be able to work normally. The President’s faction, People’s Front, and Opposition Bloc will keep all their seats, and such a correlation of interests is detrimental to the parliament’s viability.”
However, in People’s Front they keep insisting on nominating the candidates to the government. “The faction’s clear-cut position was voiced by its leader, Maksym Burbak: the Cabinet will only be prepared to resign when a new prime minister is proposed, together with the complete Cabinet of Ministers and its agenda,” said Lilia HRYNEVYCH, MP, People’s Front. “Under the circumstances the country must not be kept in suspense and without leadership. PPB must propose its abovementioned package, and we will be ready to dismiss the current government and share the responsibility for a new one. Yet we need to understand what exactly we will be responsible for, it must be stated clearly. So far, the Petro Poroshenko Bloc has not proposed anything. Naming a few candidates publicly does not actually mean a thing.”
“But if the political forces want to push the country into the rigmarole of early elections, this suspense will last another six months. In the current complicated circumstances it would be irresponsible. So we are prepared to meet PPB halfway, and we are waiting for their concrete proposals. If the coalition agrees to them, People’s Front will give its support as well,” added Hrynevych.
