Shmyhal admits possible reshuffles in Cabinet after ruling faction has its say

This is how the head of government responded to an Ukrinform correspondent’s question, speaking at a briefing during a working trip to Kramatorsk, Donetsk region.

"As we have always said, no one holds on to their chair, so reshuffles are possible. It is always an urgent issue when it’s necessary to strengthen some areas or change some ministry’s strategy. That is, depending on the situation, whether it’s crisis, development, support of something, of course, such reshuffles do occur," said Denys Shmyhal.

He recalled that the Minister of Ecology Roman Abramovsky had earlier filed a resignation letter.

"Accordingly, the parliament will consider in due procedure. As for other personnel changes, let's wait for the decision of the faction that will consider and adopt it as to individual ministers. Whether it’ll be more or fewer people, we’ll see; we’ll be in dialogue with the faction. It is obviously wrong to raise the issue today, before the faction holds its hearing and we have a final meeting with them," the prime minister said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on October 19, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada Office received an official letter of resignation from Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Roman Abramovsky.

On October 20, Andriy Zhupanyn, MP with the ruling Servant of the People faction, confirmed media reports he was one of the candidates who could be appointed to replace Abramovsky. He added he had learned from the media that his probable competitors in the fight for the minister’s chair could be the current head of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Skichko, and ex-chief of the State Ecological Inspectorate, Yehor Firsov.

On October 22, the leader of the Servant of the People faction, David Arahamiya, said the parliament would vote for the appointment of a new defense minister within two to three weeks, and that President Volodymyr Zelensky had finally decided on his pick for the post.

Earlier, the ruling faction announced the upcoming replacement of four to five ministers.

On Monday, November 1, the faction will convene to discuss personnel reshuffles in the Cabinet.

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