You're reading: ​Yatsenyuk televises Cabinet meeting for first time amid widespread criticism

Amid scathing criticism over the government’s failure to pass reform and a potential vote of no-confidence in parliament, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is trying his luck on television.

The prime minister decided to broadcast the entirety of the Feb. 11 Cabinet of Ministers meeting for what appears to be the first time in Ukrainian history, using the meeting as an attempt to burnish his image while condemning what he called an “unacceptable” culture of political corruption. The meeting was still going on as of 6:16 pm. on Feb. 11.

Meetings at the Cabinet of Ministers have typically been televised only for the first few minutes, enough to show Yatsenyuk’s opening address but not long enough for journalists to view discussions among the rest of the ministers.

The session, devoted to outlining the cabinet’s 2016 reform plan, came amid mounting criticism over Yatsenyuk’s failure to enact substantial reforms during his tenure as prime minister, and days before a potential vote of no-confidence that could put an end to Yatsenyuk’s time as prime minister.

On Feb. 10, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde said that the international money lender would withhold loans if the government failed to act on corruption and enact meaningful reform. Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius resigned in a bombshell press conference on Feb. 3, accusing a top parliamentarian of nepotism and of blocking reform.

Zero tolerance

But in an apparent bid to fend off the criticism, Yatsenyuk attempted to list a number of accomplishments that his government had completed since it came to power in December 2014.

Among these was ProZorro, an electronic public procurement system that has been hailed as a step towards transparency in Ukraine government purchases. That innovation was introduced by Abromavicius and his team at the economy ministry.

During the meeting, Yatsenyuk also attempted to show that his government was committed to rooting out corruption and streamlining government process, or at least towards taking renewed steps towards achieving those ends.

For example, Yatsenyuk promised that private “business groups” would no longer use parliamentarians to influence the cabinet. What these groups were able to do before the Feb. 11 meeting, Yatsenyuk did not say.

The embattled prime minister also promised to conduct an “international audit” of the 50 biggest state-owned enterprises.

“It is not possible that the results of voting depend on what representatives parties have in the state-owned companies or central authorities,” Yatsenyuk said at the meeting.

He added: “This is the principle of real zero-level tolerance to corruption and the absence of political interference.”

The prime minister also used the meeting to formally announce a number of changes that have been expected to go into force over the past few weeks, including a move to transfer the management of customs services of Lviv, Chernivtsi, Volyn, and Zakarpatiya oblasts to foreign companies.

“We want to attract companies that have experience in fighting corruption at customs,” the prime minister said.

Yatsenuyk also referred to his low ratings. A fresh poll, conducted by Sociological Group Rating, shows that only 8 percent of Ukrainians are satisfied with his work and 70 percent of respondents think he should resign.

“We are not after popularity,” he said. “This is not our mission, we were not appointed for it.”

Kyiv Post staff writer Josh Kovensky can be reached at [email protected]. Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Savchuk can be reached at [email protected]