Ukrainian Prime Minister Resigns: Sacrifice or Desperate?

(Baonghean.vn) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced that he officially submitted his resignation to the Parliament on April 12. Is Mr. Yatsenyuk's decision a sacrifice to help the country avoid a new level of instability or is it simply a "desperate" decision to give up power? Will the future of Ukrainian politics be more stable?

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced his resignation. Photo: Reuters.

The departure was foretold

In a televised statement, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said that instability in Ukraine, especially in the East, was “inevitable” if a new government was not formed. This statement made it seem as if Mr. Yatsenyuk had “sacrificed” his political career for the common good. Mr. Yatsenyuk himself realized that the political crisis had paralyzed the government. His plan to resolve the crisis was not accepted.

But that’s not really the case. After nearly two years in office, Mr. Yatsenyuk has seen his approval ratings steadily decline. In February, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk’s government “survived” a no-confidence vote, but that was not his “victory,” and it even made Ukrainian politics more volatile.

Several factions in the ruling coalition have refused to work with the cabinet. They have also said they will continue discussions on forming a new coalition and government despite Yatsenyuk’s refusal to leave office. That’s not to mention the “irreconcilable” conflicts between Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and President Petro Poroshenko on everything from internal reforms to the Eastern issue.

Kiev’s unpredictable division and instability have caused concern in the West. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has threatened to withhold aid if the Ukrainian government does not implement reforms. In such a context, the “departure” of Prime Minister Yatsenyuk is probably inevitable, just a matter of time. Of course, choosing to resign early is wiser than being dismissed.

Immediately after Mr. Yatsenyuk's resignation, a race for the prime minister's seat began. Former interim prime minister Sergei Arbuzov immediately announced his readiness to return to the seat with his colleagues and economic recovery program. The race also includes the speaker of the parliament, Volodymyr Groysman, who is supported by President Petro Poroshenko to take the vacant prime minister's seat. It is expected that on April 12, Ukraine will announce the formation of a new coalition government and decide who will succeed Mr. Yatsenyuk.

Speaker of the National Assembly Volodymyr Groysman, who was supported by President Petro Poroshenko to take the vacant Prime Minister's seat. Photo: Reuters.

New waves

The question is whether the departure of Mr. Yatsenyuk and the formation of a new government will help Ukraine become stable. Many analysts believe that it will be very difficult. Ukrainian politics has been in turmoil for a long time, with factions showing contradictions, quarrels, and fierce power struggles for many months.

In this context, Ukraine’s domestic and foreign difficulties have not only not been resolved but have become more serious. The economic crisis continues, the eastern region remains out of Kiev’s control, and the European Union and the United States have sent signals expressing their disappointment with the dismal performance of the Ukrainian government.

Whoever takes the helm of government will face the same challenges that Ukraine is facing. First of all, forming a coalition government, uniting the factions, resolving the persistent unrest in the East…

Not only Prime Minister Yatsenyuk's government but also President Poroshenko has lost credibility in the political arena as well as in the public opinion of Ukraine. In particular, President Petro Poroshenko is currently suffering a shock related to the leaked documents of the Panama Papers related to tax evasion by his candy company before he became President.

Poroshenko's involvement in the offshore company allegations has dented the Poroshenko Bloc's influence in Ukraine's parliament, and also the person who will take over after Prime Minister Yatseniuk resigns.

Obviously, changing the leadership of the government and some other agencies these days is not a fundamental solution to change the situation. Many people think that this power struggle will only be a "show" for creditors and Western donors to monitor and it will certainly take place to the extent that those creditors accept.

That also means that “reforming” the government apparatus will not necessarily bring stability to Ukraine. An analyst once said: “It is unwise to demolish your own house without having the resources to build a new one and without having a suitable blueprint for the future house. It is inevitable that you will have to stand in the rain and sun.”

Thanh Huyen