The Rada assessed Sybiga’s chances to head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “There are no complaints about him”

The Verkhovna Rada will most likely support the candidacy of Andriy Sybiga for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, if the corresponding submission is received from the President. At the same time, it is currently unknown when the personnel issue itself may appear on the parliamentary agenda.

“There is a huge chance that he will be supported”

According to Merezhko, Sybiga’s candidacy does not raise serious objections either at the level of the relevant committee or among the people’s deputies.

“If the President nominates Andriy Sybiga for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, then I think there is a huge chance that his candidacy will be supported by both the committee and, accordingly, the audience,” the parliamentarian noted.

He added that Sybiga has developed normal working relations with the committee, and the diplomat himself, according to him, is focused on his work, not on self-PR.

Merezhko also stated that he would personally vote for Sybiga’s appointment.

In the opposition, Sybiga’s candidacy also does not cause sharp criticism

According to the chairman of the committee, he did not hear any significant criticism of Sybiga’s professional level from the opposition forces in parliament.

Merezhko noted that his candidacy “does not cause irritation there,” and Sybiga himself is set for an open dialogue with all parliamentary factions.

When the Rada will vote is still unknown

At the same time, there is no specific date for considering the personnel issue.

Merezhko suggested that the Verkhovna Rada may simultaneously receive proposals on the appointment of the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense.

“If the Minister of Foreign Affairs is more or less clear, then the candidacy of the Minister of Defense is not completely clear,” he explained.

On July 17, the government, in agreement with the President, appointed Andriy Sybiga as the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Yevheniy Khmara as the acting Minister of Defense.

This followed government personnel changes: on July 14, the Verkhovna Rada supported the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, along with whom the entire Cabinet resigned. Already on July 16, the parliament supported the proposal of the new Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky to appoint a new government.

The Verkhovna Rada is expected to work in plenary sessions from August 18 to 21. It is not yet known whether the candidacy of the new Minister of Foreign Affairs will be put to a vote during this period.