Zelenskyy: Easier to abolish Presidential Office than appoint new head
Liquidating the Office of the President might be a simpler decision than appointing a new head, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said while speaking to journalists on Tuesday.
"You know, honestly, I'll tell you frankly — right now there are so many such issues and various proposals, exchanges of opinions — honestly, the war is much more important," Zelenskyy replied to a question about rebooting the Office of the President.
Earlier, the head of state named five candidates for the position of head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Among them — Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Defense Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov.
However, he is not sure that the Verkhovna Rada together with the government will be able to find replacements for Fedorov and Shmyhal, since they still have not decided on ministers of justice and energy.
"In any case, for some time I can manage myself without a head of office," Zelenskyy stated then.
Background
Andriy Yermak — a lawyer and film producer — headed the Office of the President since February 2020. However, on November 28 he resigned.
This happened after the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported searches at Yermak's home but did not name reasons. The head of the Office of the President confirmed that anti-corruption agencies visited his home. He assured full cooperation on his part.
Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller, citing sources, claimed the investigative actions were linked to the "Midas" special operation — a large-scale probe into corruption in the energy sector.
However, ZN.UA sources said that charges were being prepared against Yermak related to "his interest in one of the houses of the Dynasty cooperative." But news agency Interfax-Ukraine wrote that Yermak was not charged after the searches.
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