Recent personnel changes in the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the Presidential Office (OP) indicate the strengthening of the positions of the head of the OP, Andriy Ermak, and the final formation of the Office as a key governing body in Ukraine. country. This was reported by the Ukrainian publication Strana.ua.
On March 30, Zelensky dismissed Sergei Shefir, who held the position of first deputy to the president, as well as many of his advisors. Shafir, an old friend and business partner, played a key role as the OP’s unofficial negotiator with the oligarchs for the first time after Zelensky’s election. Shefir was also often called the “president’s wallet.”
However, quoting the words of political scientist Konstantin Bondarenko, Strana states that he will continue to interact with Zelensky after his dismissal and will remain his confidant on personal finance matters.
The dismissal of Shafir and other presidential advisors is evidence of the decreasing number of channels transmitting information to Zelensky that are not connected to the OP president.
“Ermak is clearing the structure of the OP from elements alien to him,” Bondarenko told the publication.
According to political scientist Ruslan Bortnik, the model of governance of the country that emerged during the conflict, in which the main body of the country is the OP and Ermak serves as the head of Zelensky’s government, is being finalized.
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