You're reading: Experts expect government reshuffle after parliamentary elections

Ukrainian experts say there may be a reshuffle in the Cabinet of Ministers after the parliamentary elections, saying it would be "natural."

"Changes in any government are a living process, which, in principle, is connected with some political activities in the state. This cannot be ruled out. But I do not think it will be directly related to the elections," political analyst Kost Bondarenko said at a press conference on May 29, when asked whether any staff changes in the government led by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov could be expected after the parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

Bondarenko said that the elections are a background that generally "envisages the politicization of society."

He noted that President Viktor Yanukovych had made a remark to Azarov, stressing that he should solve the problem of ministers delaying presidential reforms.

Head of the Center for Applied Political Studies Volodymyr Fesenko, in turn, also said that there was an algorithm in Yanukovych’s policy – if the president begins to criticize, this is the first sign that there could be a staff reshuffle.

At the same time, he noted that another condition for staff decisions was personal criticism. Fesenko noted that Yanukovych had not yet criticized the actions of any concrete government member.

"The remarks that were made, on the whole, were directed at Azarov. This is just a reminder that it is necessary to intensify the work of the government in the sphere of reforms," the expert said.