Fedorov vs Budanov: who will head the Office of President Zelenskyi?
5 December 16:53
For almost a week now, behind-the-scenes and public discussions have been raging around the future candidacy of the new head of the Presidential Office (PO). Up to a dozen names, mostly of current government officials, were mentioned as possible candidates for this position. Later, the “list of possible” candidates was reduced to five. And as of now, according to the sources of various publications, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is allegedly choosing between two key candidates. Who are they and how are their chances assessed?
One of the most common versions of the main candidates for the post of head of the Presidential Office is as follows:
- minister of Defense Rustem Umerov (or Denys Shmyhal – sources are not consistent);
- first Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov;
- head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov;
- deputy Head of the OP Pavlo Palisa;
- first Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya.
Versions
UP journalist Mykhailo Tkach writes:
“Regarding the new head of the OP. Priorities are constantly shifting. As of now, sources say that the president is choosing between Fedorov and Budanov and is leaning towards Budanov. The OP will be interesting,” said UP journalist Mykhailo Tkach.
Sources of NV denied Mykhailo Tkach’ s version:
“…an NV source close to the Presidential Office notes that as of this morning, his candidacy has not been fully considered. The source attributes the appearance of the day’s gossip to the fact that it may be a controlled throw-in on the eve of the announcement of the real candidate.”
Censor journalist Tetyana Nikolayenko writes:
“I know that Denys Shmyhal is one of the key candidates for the post of head of the Presidential Office. This is bad news for me.”
Journalist Yulia Zabelina writes:
“There is no final decision as of now. Everything is now being decided by the President. It all depends on what format of work and strategy he chooses:
- Fedorov is a focus on domestic policy, but with an impact on all other processes, including the election, because Mykhailo was instructed to lead the new ruling party, to form the list, and this also means an impact on the electoral history of the President himself, a renewal of the team within the OP.
- Budanov (also a high chance) means a focus on the military and negotiations, and then Budanov should lead the negotiating team, not Umerov. Shmyhal does not want to. He told the President that he has a vision for the development of the Defense Ministry, especially after Umerov’s leadership.
- Kyslytsia would be almost entirely focused on the negotiations, but I know he would not mind the post of foreign minister. A professional diplomat”
MP from the Servant of the People party , Bohdan Kitsak, said on Radio Liberty:
“The information will be confirmed after the President issues the relevant decree and appoints his head of the Presidential Office, but, according to my information, it is most likely that Mr. Fedorov will be the head of the Office.”
Sources
“that this particular solution has its own pool of lobbyists among individual politicians and some Western partners.”
Obviously, no one knows whether the President has made up his mind yet, except for Zelenskyy himself. And MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced that the country would learn the name of the new head of the OP today, on December 5.
Related events Today, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a personal meeting with First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia, who is on the list of candidates for the position of head of the OP.
While the new head of the Presidential Office has not been officially announced, some media outlets are almost “competing” in their favorable assessments of the previous achievements of individual candidates. This suggests that certain candidates are either interested or more eager to get the position.
