Kiev, September 5 (IANS) Ukraine’s parliament has expelled four ministers. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has resigned on Wednesday.
Lawmakers on Wednesday voted to sack Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishina, Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Justice Minister Denys Malyuska and Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strelets, reports news agency Xinhua.
Parliament did not consider the dismissal of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who resigned on Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the cabinet reshuffle was aimed at strengthening Ukraine at various stages.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba submitted a resignation letter to parliament on Wednesday, parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk wrote on social media platform Facebook. Stefanchuk said parliament will consider Kuleba’s application at the nearest plenary session. Kuleba, 43, was appointed Ukraine’s foreign minister in March 2020.
On Tuesday, David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People party’s parliamentary faction, said on Telegram that more than 50 percent of the Cabinet staff would be replaced.
President Zelensky also expressed his opinion on this issue in a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris. He said that he cannot announce any replacement because he does not know whether the candidates will accept his offer to join the government.
The president’s website showed that he had also fired Rostislav Shurma, the ‘deputy chief of staff’ who handled the economy. The parliament session was over, but Kuleba’s resignation was not considered.
These important changes in the Ukrainian parliament are taking place at a time when the war continues as Russian forces are advancing on the eastern front. Ukrainian President Zelensky is scheduled to visit a key ally, the US, this month, where his country’s president is expected to tell Joe Biden about his ‘plan for victory’.
Zelensky has ordered several reshuffles since Russia launched the invasion in February 2022. Last September, he sacked his defence minister amid multiple corruption scandals and more recently removed the army’s top commander after a string of setbacks in the war.
At least five portfolios have fallen vacant since ministers were removed or resigned earlier this year, including the crucial agriculture and infrastructure departments.
Opposition lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko said, “This is a government without ministers. An intellectual and personnel crisis to which the authorities are turning a blind eye.” She called for a government dedicated to national unity that would end Zelensky’s political team’s tight grip on the reins of power.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s term ended in May but he remains in office as Ukraine remains under martial law.
—IANS
SM/KR
