Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that his boss, President Viktor Yanukovych, has agreed to let him choose candidates to be the next First Deputy Prime Minister.
Speaking on the Shuster LIVE television show late on Feb. 17, Azarov said that consultations are now being held and that he will submit the candidate of his choice to the president within days. Azarov said it is then up to the president to approve or reject the candidate. According to Azarov, there are more than three leading candidates for the job, which was vacated after Andriy Klyuyev was reassigned to head the National Security and Defense Council.
“The final choice has not been made. There is the need [to make choice], and this will be done in the coming days,” Interfax-Ukraine quoted Azarov as saying during the Shuster LIVE television show.
Azarov stressed that although the president ultimately has the power to appoint his deputy minister, he had enough authority to properly manage and coordinate work of the government.
“I have enough power, and all of the ministers and vice premiers will certainly fulfill all orders of the prime minister. Otherwise they won’t work in the government because the government requires a coordinated work in such difficult conditions,” Interfax-Ukraine quoted him as saying.
