CABINET SCANDAL: STRUGGLE OF IDEAS OR ANOTHER INTRIGUE?
Leonid Kuchma seems to have finally given up his most obedient Premier Valery Pustovoitenko. At least this seems the only logical assumption after First Vice Premier Volodymyr Kuratchenko's sensational speech at a Cabinet sitting Wednesday, July 28.
As befitted a Ukrainian civil servant of his caliber, the man kept a low profile - at least nothing by way of exposes aimed against those sitting upstairs. Not till last Wednesday anyway. On that date he spoke not only against the Premier's proposal to issue a reprimand addressed to Power Industry Minister Plachkov, but also criticized the Cabinet performance, stressing that it is “necessary nowadays to enhance the absent coordinating and regulatory role of the government.” While the Premier and Finance Minister are busy talking the IMF mission into providing another EFF tranche, Mr. Kuratchenko came up with a proposal to “adjust the reform course” and revise the Ukrainian government's memorandum signed with IMF and World Bank.
This vicious attack levied on the Premier by one of his immediate subordinates may be evidence that Mr. Kuratchenko was okayed to do so by the President. Word has it, too, that Boris Berezovsky, frequenting Kyiv of late, is determined to talk Leonid Kuchma into firing Valery Pustovoitenko, to show the electorate that Ukraine does have a resolute Chief Executive. After that Mr. Kuchma could head the government (an unlikely possibility, considering the President's innate lack of determination) or appoint a new, more resolute Premier (in which case Mr. Kuratchenko's demarche last Wednesday could be regarded as a dress rehearsal, and the fact that his and not Pustovoitenko's proposal with regard to Mr. Plachkov, was supported by the Cabinet, could be evidence that the current Premier has been shown the door).
The government collision, arising at the previous Cabinet meeting, had its sequel July 28. Vice Premier Serhiy Tyhypko, either not quick on the uptake or maybe realizing that saving one's face was the best one could do under the circumstances (the reader will remember that he took a polarized stand compared to the Premier's view on the domestic situation), lashed out at Kuratchenko's proposal. “I believe that the trend should be just the opposite,” he told Interfax Ukraine. “We have done too much by way of overregulation as it is.” He also rejected the emission proposal: “It is emission, no matter what you call it.”
Remarkably, the President showed no response to the Cabinet scandal at press time. His reaction will, of course, make it finally clear whether he intends to do what he could not do using Parliament: fire Valery Pustovoitenko or allowing two “dissenters” with polarized views at the Cabinet.
P.S.: The Cabinet was supposed to hold an extraordinary in camera sitting at 18.00 July 28 and the Premier said the subject would be the “current domestic situation.” In particular, the ministers were expected to discuss Mr. Kuratchenko's proposal to “adjust” the domestic political course, Interfax Ukraine reports. When queried by journalists about whether he would fire Mr. Kuratchenko, Premier Pustovoitenko stressed that it was “not my right” to do so. Mr. Pustovoitenko (who is also NDP leader) seems to have adopted a “party strategy” to win back some points in this losing game. He said that Mr. Kuratchenko's statements would be discussed by the NDP Political Council (the First Vice Premier being its member) before submitted to the Cabinet's extraordinary sitting.
For more on the implications of the Cabinet dissent and consequences of Mr. Kuratchenko's proposed ТadjustmentУ see NB page. (For more see page 5)
Leonid Kuchma seems to have finally given up his most obedient Premier Valery Pustovoitenko. At least this seems the only logical assumption after First Vice Premier Volodymyr Kuratchenko's sensational speech at a Cabinet sitting Wednesday, July 28.
As befitted a Ukrainian civil servant of his caliber, the man kept a low profile - at least nothing by way of exposes aimed against those sitting upstairs. Not till last Wednesday anyway. On that date he spoke not only against the Premier's proposal to issue a reprimand addressed to Power Industry Minister Plachkov, but also criticized the Cabinet performance, stressing that it is “necessary nowadays to enhance the absent coordinating and regulatory role of the government.” While the Premier and Finance Minister are busy talking the IMF mission into providing another EFF tranche, Mr. Kuratchenko came up with a proposal to “adjust the reform course” and revise the Ukrainian government's memorandum signed with IMF and World Bank.
This vicious attack levied on the Premier by one of his immediate subordinates may be evidence that Mr. Kuratchenko was okayed to do so by the President. Word has it, too, that Boris Berezovsky, frequenting Kyiv of late, is determined to talk Leonid Kuchma into firing Valery Pustovoitenko, to show the electorate that Ukraine does have a resolute Chief Executive. After that Mr. Kuchma could head the government (an unlikely possibility, considering the President's innate lack of determination) or appoint a new, more resolute Premier (in which case Mr. Kuratchenko's demarche last Wednesday could be regarded as a dress rehearsal, and the fact that his and not Pustovoitenko's proposal with regard to Mr. Plachkov, was supported by the Cabinet, could be evidence that the current Premier has been shown the door).
The government collision, arising at the previous Cabinet meeting, had its sequel July 28. Vice Premier Serhiy Tyhypko, either not quick on the uptake or maybe realizing that saving one's face was the best one could do under the circumstances (the reader will remember that he took a polarized stand compared to the Premier's view on the domestic situation), lashed out at Kuratchenko's proposal. “I believe that the trend should be just the opposite,” he told Interfax Ukraine. “We have done too much by way of overregulation as it is.” He also rejected the emission proposal: “It is emission, no matter what you call it.”
Remarkably, the President showed no response to the Cabinet scandal at press time. His reaction will, of course, make it finally clear whether he intends to do what he could not do using Parliament: fire Valery Pustovoitenko or allowing two “dissenters” with polarized views at the Cabinet.
P.S.: The Cabinet was supposed to hold an extraordinary in camera sitting at 18.00 July 28 and the Premier said the subject would be the “current domestic situation.” In particular, the ministers were expected to discuss Mr. Kuratchenko's proposal to “adjust” the domestic political course, Interfax Ukraine reports. When queried by journalists about whether he would fire Mr. Kuratchenko, Premier Pustovoitenko stressed that it was “not my right” to do so. Mr. Pustovoitenko (who is also NDP leader) seems to have adopted a “party strategy” to win back some points in this losing game. He said that Mr. Kuratchenko's statements would be discussed by the NDP Political Council (the First Vice Premier being its member) before submitted to the Cabinet's extraordinary sitting.
For more on the implications of the Cabinet dissent and consequences of Mr. Kuratchenko's proposed ТadjustmentУ see NB page. (For more see page 5)
Newspaper output №:
№29, (1999)Section
Day After Day
