Translated by Eugene Ivantsov
Despite Yulia Tymoshenko’s claims that she has not shared positions in power, the BYuT and Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense (NU-NS) have completed the first stage of coalition talks, having shared positions in the new authority.
The two election winners shared ministerial posts. However, they did it without taking into consideration Lytvyn Bloc.
Obviously, they expect the former speaker to come back from vacation and join the coalition claiming governor positions and secondary offices in the executive power.
During the long talks it was agreed that Mrs. Tymoshenko would control economic and energy sectors of the government while NU-NS would assume control over law-enforcement agencies and humanitarian bloc.
The BYuT planned to nominate Oleksandr Turchynov for the position of the Interior Minister but the president demanded that the security bloc had to be under his control. Mrs. Tymoshenko agreed having received the Transport Ministry in exchange.
The BYuT and NU-NS will share positions in the government on the equal basis receiving 12 positions each. Also, the two blocs will nominate two Vice PMs each.
Mrs. Tymoshenko’s quota: economic and energy sectors
Most probably, if nominated the PM, Yulia Tymoshenko will keep the current structure of government – the Finance Minister will become the First Vice PM.
In such a case Oleksandr Turchynov is number one candidate for the positions of the Finance Minister and the First Vice PM.
At the same time, the BYuT will try to obtain guarantees that the Finance Ministry preserves control over State Tax Service, State Customs Service and the State Property Fund which are the government bodies that secure budget revenue.
Traditionally, Chief Supervision and Auditing Service closely collaborates with the Finance Ministry.
If Mr. Turchynov heads the Finance Ministry then Viktor Pynzennyk may claim the position of the Economic Minister.
If the First PM does not combine his office with the position of the Finance Minister, then Mr. Pynzennyk may head the Finance Ministry where he used to work in 2005.
Mr. Pynzennyk in his turn would probably like to have his old ally Serhiy Teryohin as the Economic Minister.
The Second Vice PM in Tymoshenko’s government would control either energy sector or agriculture.
If the Vice PM assumed control over energy sector, then Vitaliy Hayduk is the most likely candidate for this position. As known, Mr. Hayduk is very persistent in fighting against RosUkrEnergo which Yulia Tymoshenko strongly dislikes.
If the Vice PM controls agriculture sector then Ivan Kyrylenko may receive this position. He is Yulia Tymoshenko’s ally since the time of Pavlo Lazarenko’s government. He used to be Agriculture Minister in Yushchenko’s government and deputy agriculture minister in Yanukovych’s Cabinet.
Mrs. Tymoshenko’s quota:
Prime Minister
First Vice Prime Minister
Vice Prime Minister in Matters for Energy or Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Coal Industry
Ministry of Economic
Fuel and Energy Ministry
Ministry of Industrial Policy
Transport and Communications Ministry
Finance Ministry
Ministry of Regional Development and Building
Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers
Total: 12 offices
Mrs. Tymoshenko has at least two candidates for the Transport Ministry. It is Mykola Kovzel who is Mrs. Tymoshenko’s neighbor and formerly head of Intertrans company founded when Heorhiy Kirpa chaired the Transport Ministry.
Tariel Vasadze may be the second candidate. However, taking into account that he is now busy building a giant business corporation, his nomination is not much discussed.
Yuriy Prodan is a possible nomination for the Fuel and Energy Minister. He was deputy head of the Security Service when Oleksandr Turchynov chaired this law-enforcement agency.
Besides, Mr. Prodan opposed Rynat Akhmetov’s assuming control over DniproEnergo.
At the same time, they say that the new government may liquidate the Ministry of Coal Industry by including it to the Fuel and Energy Ministry.
If Mrs. Tymoshenko becomes the PM, Petro Krupka may receive the position of the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers. He used to occupy this position in Mrs. Tymoshenko’s government in 2005.
He was also her representative in the Central Election Commission at this parliamentary election.
NU-NS quota: law-enforcement agencies and humanitarian sector
If the two blocs follow the parity principle and the BYuT leader occupies Yanukovych’s office the president’s bloc will nominate two Vice PMs.
Yuriy Lutsenko will combine offices of the Vice PM in Security Matters and the Interior Minister.
As known, the position of Vice PM in Security Matters was introduced by Viktor Yanukovych as a means of fighting against Mr. Yushchenko’s security officials. First, Mr. Radchenko and then Mr. Kuzmuk occupied this office. The Orange politicians criticized this innovation refusing to abolish it though.
But it may turn out that Mr. Lutsenko will run for the mayor’s office in Kyiv. Then two ministerial vacancies will be opened.
Yuriy Pavlenko will most likely become the PM in Humanitarian Matters.
NU-NS quota:
Vice PM in Security Matters
Vice PM in Humanitarian Matters
Interior Ministry
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Ministry of Education and Science
Ministry of Health Care
Labor and Social Policy Ministry
Ministry for Emergency Matters
Ministry in Matters of Family, Youth and Sport
Justice Ministry
Ministry in Matters of Housing Maintenance and Utilities
Ecology Ministry
Total: 12 offices
The Justice Ministry is the second important ministry in the NU-NS quota after the Interior Ministry. There are several candidates to head this ministry, Roman Zvarych and Mykola Katerynchuk among them.
However, as of the end of the last week, head of the NU-NS legal department Mykola Onishchuk was the most likely candidate to chair this ministry.
PORA representative Illya Shevlyak is nominated for the Minister of Sport and Youth. Ministry in Matters of Housing Maintenance and Utilities may be headed by Lviv’s ex-mayor Vasyl Kuybida.
David Zhvania’s return to the Ministry for Emergency Matters is possible. Alternatively, he may head the State Antimonopoly Committee.
Mykola Polishchuk is said to chair the Ministry of Health Care.
Situation with candidates for other ministerial positions in unclear. Unlike the BYuT, there two centers of decision making in NU-NS: the President’s Secretariat and NU-NS Political Council.
It is possible, that those who did not enter parliament under NU-NS list but are well known in the president’s bloc will receive other ministerial positions.
The president’s quota
Most probable, Mr. Yushchenko will not change the Defense Minister. Thus, Anatoliy Hrytsenko will most likely keep his high office.
Intrigue with the Foreign Minister is aggravated by the fact that the former Foreign Minister wants to return in this office.
That is why Arseniy Yatsenyuk is said to receive the position of the National Bank Chairman.
However, Petro Poroshenko is not satisfied with such a decision. Both Yushchenko and Tymoshenko promised he would receive this office after election.
Election of a new National Bank Chairman will be held after formation of a government. It will be understood then if the BYuT and NU-NS officials keep their word at least in bilateral relations.