In Ukraine, a large-scale corruption scandal surrounding Energoatom in the energy sector has caused a serious stir on the political stage. Former President Petro Poroshenko sharply criticized the government's stance on this issue and called for the resignation of the incumbent Prime Minister and his entire team. In his opinion, in the current situation, limiting the dismissal of only two ministers is a very slow and ineffective step.
In a video message released on November 17, Poroshenko made a sharp statement: "This corrupt Cabmindich must resign completely." He noted that "at least five officials' names were mentioned in the disclosed materials," calling the government's actions a pretense.
Call for a new coalition
Poroshenko stated the need to form a "national liberation government" to mitigate the existing political crisis and restore public trust in the government. In his opinion, this coalition should be formed from reputable specialists, uniting various parties. In the current situation, especially due to the difficult situation at the front, the most important task is to prevent political instability.
Opposition support, but not enough votes
Poroshenko's initiative was supported by the "Voice" faction in parliament. However, the actual figures show a different picture: "European Solidarity" and "Voice" together have only 45 seats. For a vote of no confidence in the government to be officially discussed, the consent of at least 226 deputies is required. Therefore, if the number of supporters of the initiative does not increase sharply, the probability of Poroshenko's proposal being implemented is very low.
Who is at the center of the corruption scandal?
On November 10, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) of Ukraine announced the discovery of a very large-scale scheme in the energy sector. Several current government officials, President Zelenskyy's longtime partner, Timur Mindich, and a prominent figure in the financial sector, Alexander Zuckerman, were cited as key figures during the investigation.
Law enforcement agencies searched Mindich's house, the "Energoatom" building, and the address of Justice Minister Hermann Galushchenko. It was reported that Mindich left Ukrainian territory before the start of the investigation.
Zelenskyy's response and a series of resignations
On November 12, President Zelenskyy demanded the removal of Justice Minister Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk. They quickly resigned shortly after the president's statement.
Also, on November 13, Zelenskyy signed a decree imposing sanctions on Mindich and Zuckerman.
The situation in Ukraine doesn't seem to calm down yet. The corruption conflict can accelerate new processes on the political stage and lead to the reorganization of certain structures. The public is currently preoccupied with the question: what new stage will this conflict open in the political life of Ukraine?
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