“The all-powerful head of the presidential administration was very unpopular in Ukraine. However, the departure of the Ukrainian president's main trusted person happens at the worst moment: when the United States demands that Kiev conclude a peace agreement with Russia,” the daily notes.
He reminds that “in the Ukrainian political system, the head of the presidential administration plays a role that has no equivalent in Western democracies – at the same time a political advisor, head of the cabinet and administrator of state affairs.” Calling Yermak “number two” in the Ukrainian authorities, he emphasizes that he held the country's foreign policy and peace talks in his hands, while keeping an eye on military operations and supplies for the army.
The article continues below the video
Why did Yermak's resignation come at the worst moment?
What position did Andriy Yermak hold?
What is known about the corruption scandal related to Yermak?
How did Yermak influence Ukraine's foreign policy?
“For Zelensky, Yermak was more than an advisor”
“For Volodymyr Zelensky (he was) much more than an advisor, he was his most trusted person,” notes “Le Monde.” Also abroad – as the daily notes – Yermak's name has become better known than the first two prime ministers of Ukraine who headed the government in the period after Russia launched the invasion.
In the country, all criticism of the authorities' decisions focused on Yermak. “His control over domestic policy matters made him many enemies and he was considered the organizer of the strict concentration of power in the president's office,” notes “Le Monde.” He emphasizes that long before the corruption scandal that broke out in Ukraine in recent months, the opposition to the head of Zelensky's office was strengthening in the country.
Nevertheless, “everyone knows” that his departure “comes at the worst moment for the head of state,” admits “Le Monde”, recalling that Yermak was part of the delegation participating in the peace talks.
As he reports, questions are being raised in the Ukrainian media and in government circles about who will benefit from Yermak's resignation or who inspired it. “Some in Kiev, especially those around the president, want to argue that the pressure exerted on the head of the chancellery was organized by the Russians. For others, his departure would be the result of an “information operation” by the US administration in order to force the isolated president to sign a peace agreement unfavorable for Ukraine,” Le Monde points out.
Corruption scandal in Ukraine
Yermak is under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) in connection with an investigation into corruption under the code name “Midas”.
According to the findings of NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), participants in the extensive corruption system in the energy sector of Ukraine collected bribes ranging from 10 to 15 percent from contractors of Enerhoatom, the state operator of nuclear power plants. contract values. Illegal means were to be legalized by the so-called back office in the center of Kiev, through which – as it was determined – approximately USD 100 million passed through.
