The Verkhovna Rada appointed Serhiy Koretskyi as Prime Minister.
During the discussion of his candidacy, I publicly called for the separation of the positions of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Chief Negotiator with the EU.
If we are aiming for a real technocratic process of joining the EU, this needs to be done immediately. Otherwise, with this rate of government changes, we will have a dozen negotiators in a few years who will agree on nothing.
The negotiator should not be changed; he must begin and complete the process, understanding all its technical intricacies from the start. By tying everything to one person, both the deputy prime minister and the negotiator will now be changed.
And I remind you that at one time, the entire Office of the Trade Representative was removed from the Ministry of Economy and placed in the Government Office for the Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration because this Deputy Prime Minister was Taras Kachka.
Now we have to break everything back. And this is not the first time under Zelenskyi’s governments and not only in the field of European integration. This is not how it should be.
We need to create an institutional structure that does not depend on individuals and stop the practice of creating disposable ministries and departments for specific personalities.
In addition, my colleagues and I consider it crucial to prevent corrupt individuals serving the “dynasty” from being part of the new government. We need to immediately return 40 billion UAH to the army, transfer the PIT paid by the military to brigades, and engage in real state transformation for readiness for full membership in the European Union.
The newly appointed Prime Minister did not answer the question about the PIT (I hope only due to lack of time), and regarding the illegal ban on MPs traveling abroad, he said it was new to him.
In view of today’s protests, I hope he has enough agency to overturn illegal government decisions and to form a new Cabinet of Ministers taking into account the public’s opinion on Mykhailo Fedorov. We emphasized these issues at Mr. Koretskyi’s meeting with the faction.
Very soon we will see if Serhiy Koretskyi will pass this test.
Crossroads.
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi took the right initial steps. He talked to all factions, answered questions, and assured his readiness to cooperate. He noted, among other things, that he is “on the same page” with us.
He received a vote of confidence from all factions, as we, for example, see a chance to create a government of national unity. This is a unique opportunity.
According to the Constitution, Serhiy Koretskyi now has the highest political power and legitimacy. He must submit ministerial candidates to the Verkhovna Rada (and the President, in proposing candidates for the heads of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and SBU, should consider the realities in society and parliament).
Ahead is a clean slate. Just yesterday, it was planned that what was said “from above” would be quietly voted on. Now everything can be done wisely. Turn in the right direction.
People in the squares are demanding this. It’s time to listen.
There is confusion in power. But in such cases, it is better not to resist history—it will reward abundantly.
