“He’s thinking not about the POWs but that his backroom deals weren’t blessed”: journalist on 10 steps of Zelensky in his first days in office

“He’s thinking not about the POWs but that his backroom deals weren’t blessed”: journalist on 10 steps of Zelensky in his first days in office

Zelensky wanted early elections under new rules because “putting who you need on the list is much easier than hustling in the districts, and cheaper.”

Ukrainian journalist, international media trainer, public figure and writer Zoya Kazanzhi wrote about this in an article on the Novoye Vremya website titled “10 steps of Zelensky in the first two days.” The journalist analyzed the following actions of the newly elected President:

1. The first bill from the President was not about impeachment or abolishing immunity, as Zelensky had promised, but a law on early parliamentary elections.

2. The head of the Presidential Office became a person who worked on anti-corruption in the Azarov government and was lustrated. As of now Bohdan’s name has been removed from the lustration lists. They made it look like nothing happened. Bohdan’s appointment occurred in violation of the “On Purification of Power” law. The day before, Mr. Kolomoisky “prophesied” that Bohdan, who is also his lawyer, would be appointed head of the Presidential Office.

3. The deputy head of the SBU became Zelensky’s friend and the leader of Kvartal — Ivan Bakanov. Once again — the country’s security ended up in the hands of Zelensky’s friend. Who before that worked as Kvartal’s lawyer 95 and on whom the Servant of the People party was registered.

4. One of the deputy heads of the Presidential Office was appointed Lana Zerkal, a deputy foreign minister. Zelensky signed a decree. And at night the decree disappeared from the President’s website. They say Zerkal refused because that’s not what they had apparently agreed on. Then Zelensky issued another decree — canceling the previous decree appointing Zerkal. This indicates a certain bacchanalia even with top appointments.

5. Deputies of the head of the Presidential Office are friends and colleagues of Zelensky from Kvartal. For example, Serhiy Trofimov became the first deputy. Before that he was engaged in producing and film production. Serhiy Shefir became just a deputy — a business partner to whom Zelensky, by his own words, handed over his share of the business to manage. To whom Shefir later transferred the business is left unsaid. But Shefir and his brother can write show scripts. Next — Yuriy Kostiuk, another scriptwriter and creative producer of Kvartal. Next — Kyrylo Tymoshenko, also a producer and TV man, who shot social spots and documentaries about “how Kolomoisky stopped the separatists” and about what a “wonderful person MP Ihor Kononenko is.” It gives the impression that they will be filming a continuation of Servant of the People rather than governing the state.

6. Other friends were appointed assistants to Zelensky — Andriy Yermak, Mykhailo Fedorov — all of whom are linked to work at Kvartal. As you can see, it was without cronyism and friends. As Zelensky promised.

7. Zelensky wanted early elections under new rules. No, these are not open lists and the new electoral code, the draft of which is registered in the Rada (it introduces open regional lists in parliamentary and local elections). These are closed lists and lowering the threshold to 3%. And the abolition of single-member districts. Do you know why they wanted to abolish single-member districts? Don’t invent pretty reasons. It’s simple: putting who you need on the list is much easier than hustling in the districts. And cheaper. They won’t have enough of their own single-mandate candidates. They would have to make deals with outsiders who would gladly fall in line with the president’s party, and that carries reputational risks. And the lure about 3% supposedly for “new and young parties” — that’s just bait. In two months it’s impossible to promote yourself enough to overcome even a low threshold.

8. “In Zelensky’s camp” announced readiness to hold a referendum on peace agreements with Russia. True, we don’t have a law on referendums, but if gullible voters want it, why not? Why not add a few percentage points for yourself in the parliamentary elections by promising what those who “are for peace and friendship with Russia, because Poroshenko is worse than Putin” want to hear — that’s what they were told on television.

9. Yesterday 8 of our fighters were taken captive. No reaction from President Zelensky. He worries about other things — about a bad Rada that didn’t want to bless his backroom deals with the oligarchy. Our Rada is colorful and ambiguous. But completely devaluing and bending state institutions — that’s rock bottom.

10. And the motorcade Zelensky criticized so much hasn’t gone anywhere — from Hrushevskoho, where he lives, to Bankova, where he works, he’s driven and escorted by 5 cars. On foot — it’s 10 minutes.