Jeremy Yudin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk’s resignation letter. The events transpired after a recording that criticized Zelensky was leaked.
In a video released by Zelensky’s office, the president called the situation “unpleasant” but said he had decided to “give a chance” to Honcharuk and his cabinet.
The resignation letter, which was posted on Honcharuk’s Facebook Friday, follows a tape that was leaked a few days ago when the prime minister criticized Zelensky for not knowing anything about the economy.
Honcharuk said that the recording was a compilation of “fragments of recorded government meetings” and blamed unidentified “influential groups” for making a false impression that respects the president. “It is not true,” the prime minister insisted.
Robert English, an International Relations professor at the University of Southern California told Humber News that President Zelensky would be following into a trap laid by his enemies if he were to accept the resignation letter.
“This is exactly what they want, to sow division between the President and Prime Minister, to impede reforms, to slow the government down,” he said.
English credits President Zelensky for not taking the bait.
“It appears that Zelensky might be a political neophyte, but he has quite a bit of political wisdom,” English said.
Former comedian
Zelensky, a 41-year old former actor and comedian, was elected last spring as President. Ironically Zelensky played as the president on his show
“Servant of the People.”
Honcharuk was elected last summer as prime minister. Honcharuk, who is a lawyer, has served as deputy head of the office for Zelensky since May of last year.