The new head of the OP: who will be tried for the post instead of Yermak

19 November 09:27

EXCLUSIVE

Since yesterday, the media and social networks, fueled by information from a number of politicians, have been expressing demands and speculation about the possible resignation of the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak. [Kommersant] has spoken to its own sources in political circles and MPs about this issue.

A representative of the Servant of the People faction, Fedir Venislavsky, stated unequivocally that there are no decisions to change the leadership of the Presidential Office.

“There are some requirements in this regard, but I have no specific decisions,” the MP added.

Goncharenko announces Markarova

Yesterday,Oleksiy Honcharenko, an MP from the EU faction , announced the possible appointment of Oksana Markarova, former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, as the head of the Presidential Office.

“A possible candidate to replace Andriy Yermak is Oksana Markarova (former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States),” the MP wrote on his telegram channel.

There was no confirmation of this information from other politicians.

Instead, sources [comersant] sources refute this possibility, saying that Ms. Markarova did consider returning to Ukraine after her term as ambassador to the United States to continue her work, and it is possible that she would hold public office.

However, after her recent visit to Ukraine and a series of consultations with representatives of both the government and the political elite, “she has not yet decided on her plans in favor of a further stay in the United States.”

Svyrydenko instead of Yermak

Dana Yarova, a civic activist and volunteer, named current Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as Yermak’s future successor in the OP.

“News from the fields. Yermak’s resignation is fake. Fedorov is the Prime Minister. Svyrydenko is the head of the presidential office,” Yarovaya posted on Facebook.

Sources "Komersant Ukrainian" sources suggest that this is the most plausible scenario, but they warn:

“Everything is changing very quickly. The OP is in constant consultation with its Western partners as well. Therefore, each and every preliminary plan can change very quickly.”

Also, as one of the interlocutors added [Kommersant]editorial board, Mykhailo Fedoriv has allegedly been a candidate for the prime minister’s post for a long time and even expected to be appointed immediately after the resignation of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Iryna Mudra – Deputy Head of the OP

One of the non-factional politicians said that she could either replace Yermak or head the Ministry of Justice (after the Rada supports Halushchenko’s dismissal).

However, the source immediately admitted that his information was based on “backstage whispers” and that he could not assure anyone that this would be the case.

an “unexpected” candidate

A person close to Bankova’s political technologists hinted that a military man might be appointed to the position of the head of the OP.

“A person in uniform. Why not? Our country is at war. And this may be a logical decision,” the source said, asking not to be identified in public.

Among the current deputy heads of the OP, by the way, there is a man in uniform, in particular, a military man, former commander of the “Kholodnoyarivtsi” Pavlo Palisa.

And here it is worth recalling the recent statement of Andriy Yermak himself from August of this year, in which the head of the OP announced “a significant reform of the Office and the involvement of military personnel with combat experience in its work.”

“We are talking about employees of all levels. In all departments, without exception. Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported this idea. This is fair. Because these people are the measure of honor, morality and loyalty to Ukraine,” Yermak said at the time.

More candidates than seats

It can be assumed that the new day will bring new “candidates” and a handful of political rumors. This is all the more likely due to the lack of a clear answer about certain prospects or plans of the Presidential Office from the official speakers of the Office itself.

The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine is Andriy Yermak. He has held this position since February 11, 2020, replacing Andriy Bohdan.

Who demands Yermak’s resignation

Following a high-profile NABU investigation into large-scale corruption in the energy sector, key government officials close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advised him to dismiss the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak.

The European Solidarity and Voice parties insist on the resignation of the current government, the formation of a new parliamentary coalition, the appointment of a new Cabinet of Ministers, and the dismissal of the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak. They also cite the corruption scandal involving businessman Tymur Mindich as the reason for these demands.

Over the past week, the president has held a series of non-public meetings with key members of his team, seeking solutions to stabilize the situation following allegations of corruption in the energy sector. Some of these conversations took place in parallel with official meetings with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Fedorov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kirill Budanov, and other government officials.

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Дзвенислава Карплюк

Editor