Protracted transfer of power: how Poroshenko and Zelensky continue to struggle after the presidential election

Almost three weeks have passed since the completion of the presidential campaign in Ukraine, but the political struggle between the rivals in the second round of voting continues.

Petro Poroshenko and his supporters, despite the defeat, are trying to impede the work of the elected head of state, Vladimir Zelensky, in the early days of the presidency. Recall that, according to the Ukrainian CEC, 73.22% of Ukrainians voted for Zelensky, while 24.45% supported Poroshenko.

In particular, in Ukraine, the date of the inauguration of the elected president has not yet been determined. A number of members of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc party are proposing to hold the ceremony after May 27 - then Zelensky will not have the opportunity to dissolve the Rada, since by law this cannot be done less than six months before the end of the powers of parliament.

Thus, Sergei Kaplin, a parliamentary deputy from the BPP, proposed to hold the inauguration in two stages - on May 19 in the session hall of the parliament, and on June 3 at the NSC Olimpiyskiy, while on the same day Zelensky is asked to report annually to the people. Earlier, his fellow party member Alexander Sugonyako made a proposal to hold the ceremony on June 1.

Zelensky himself insists on May 19. On May 10, Vladimir Zelensky recorded a video message in which he called the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada shaking for their mandates not to delay the appointment of his inauguration date, since Poroshenko performs “irreversible actions”: appoints Supreme Court judges, distributes generals and state awards.

At the same time, the presidential administration denies any accusations of trying to postpone Zelensky’s entry into office.

“The transfer of power is a complex and responsible process. And Petro Poroshenko seeks to implement it in accordance with the European tradition, as is customary in democratic countries, ”the message says.

Also in the presidential administration, Zelensky was answered by comparing the current president with a tourist stealing slippers from a hotel during a vacation. This metaphor was chosen by the head of state in the video message already mentioned above.

“Ukraine is not a room in an Egyptian hotel, as it seems to Mr. Zelensky,” said the administration of the Ukrainian president.

Meanwhile, a RT source in the Ukrainian Popular Front Party noted that Poroshenko is determined to take revenge on Zelensky in the elections to the Verkhovna Rada, which will be held in the autumn of 2019.

“As I understand it, the entourage is counting on Poroshenko to become prime minister.” For this, it is necessary to get a majority in the Rada and not let the Servant of the People Party strengthen its rating. To do this, and with the inauguration of Zelensky, in order not to give him the opportunity to early dissolve the Verkhovna Rada. And the deputies supporting the current government are doing everything to prevent this and discredit the future president. And he understands this perfectly well, ”said the source RT.

• Archival photo. The action of Ukrainian nationalists in front of the building of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine in Kiev. March 23, 2019
• RIA News

At the same time, in an interview with League.Net, adviser to the winner of the presidential election, former Finance Minister Oleksandr Danilyuk said that the “odious decisions” that Poroshenko has taken in recent days as the Ukrainian leader will be revised. In particular, it is planned to restart the recruitment and certification of judges.

“Leaving, it is better to remove for themselves. And it is time to develop a civilized political culture. The outgoing White House administration makes the necessary, but unpopular decisions to ease the plight of the next president. This is part of the culture. And we are witnesses of how the outgoing president is laying a new mine. And this is not only staff appointments. It is also, for example, the abolition of the article for illegal enrichment, which created tension in cooperation with the IMF and the EU, ”he said.

In addition, Zelensky intends to reform the Security Service of Ukraine, to eliminate the Tax Police, to restart the anti-corruption bodies.

“I would rate readiness at 95% (action plan for the first 100 days. - RT ).” This is a document that describes step by step exactly what we are going to do. I want to emphasize its importance both for the outside world and for the team, ”the former Finance Minister of Ukraine added.

Speaking of delaying the definition of the date of inauguration, Danyluk stressed that the Rada “playing games” spoils the country's reputation.

"The struggle for life and death"

At the same time, the interlocutor of RT in the presidential administration noted that Poroshenko is not going to leave politics.

“Petro Poroshenko has seriously endured his defeat in the elections and does not intend to leave politics. Therefore, he makes decisions that will influence the governance of the country and beyond. Zelensky, of course, became president, but the president, surrounded by the people of Poroshenko, ”the president’s administration said.

Denis Denisov, Director of the Institute for Peacemaking Initiatives and Conflictology, adheres to a similar point of view. In his opinion, Petro Poroshenko will try in the last days of his presidency to secure a political reserve for the future.

“We see who is appointed by the president, his entourage. He is trying to maximize his powers to secure a reserve for the future. Of course, this has nothing to do with the European tradition. However, the statements of Zelensky and his entourage are unlikely to somehow affect the situation. Before the inauguration, we will see more than once this sort of picks by the representatives of these two politicians, ”said Denisov.

In turn, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and Politics at the HSE Andrei Suzdaltsev noted that it would be difficult for Zelensky to resist Poroshenko’s influence on government structures.

“Poroshenko with the support of external forces was able to create a completely authoritarian system consisting of people personally loyal to him. He controlled the Verkhovna Rada, the government, the National Bank, the Supreme Court, the army — all the main institutions. Poroshenko is now acting behind the scenes, trying to retain his influence on these structures - hence such obstacles - both in the Rada and in court - in matters of inauguration. There is a struggle for life and death, ”the expert pointed out.

According to him, the administration of the elected president will have a hard time changing those “odious decisions” that were finally adopted by the acting head of state.

“Zelensky will have less ability to manage than Poroshenko, he does not have a formed faction that would control the Rada. He has not yet been casting in the West, he has no opportunity to rely on the support of Washington. I do not think that everything will be so easy, ”said Suzdaltsev in an interview with RT.

“The way in which the struggle for power is going on in Ukraine is amazing. Vladimir Groysman and Andrei Sadovaya have already announced their intention to become prime minister. And this Zelensky has not even begun to exercise its powers. No one wants to leave power and no one counts with the new president, ”says a source in the Radical Party.