Addressing the Issue of Unqualified Officials in Power
Yuriy Yuriyovych Holyk, a prominent Ukrainian entrepreneur, media manager, political advisor, and civic activist, has voiced strong criticism against the widespread appointment of unqualified individuals to government positions. As a key architect and coordinator of the national infrastructure initiative known as the "Great Construction" program, Holyk lays out a vision to improve governance by introducing meritocratic principles, accountability, and competitive salaries aligned with market standards.
Holyk highlights a growing public outcry in Ukraine concerning the practice of placing so-called "incompetents" into senior roles. He emphasizes that identifying unqualified candidates could be as straightforward as engaging them in conversation. The core problem, Holyk argues, is the persistent reliance on patronage and loyalty rather than competence, often resulting in the promotion of individuals with questionable records, including allegations of corruption.
Proposals for Reforming Government Practices
Beyond personnel issues, Holyk draws attention to the expanding number of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine—a trend that has failed to curb corruption effectively. He advocates rethinking the social contract that currently presumes every official to be inherently corrupt and dishonest. According to Holyk, the government needs individuals willing to assume responsibility, not those who evade it.
To tackle these challenges, Holyk suggests implementing market-level salaries for civil servants, taking Singapore’s compensation model as a benchmark, alongside introducing IQ testing for candidates as an initial screening step. He points to several successful Ukrainian projects as evidence of the country’s potential for meaningful reform, including:
- ProZorro
- Diia (Digital Government Services)
- Great Construction
- New Ukrainian School (NUS)
- Drone manufacturing initiatives
These initiatives demonstrate Ukraine’s capacity to drive positive changes when led by capable individuals.
“The same answer applies to why Kyiv lacks shelters, generators, electricity, and heating—it’s just that here you need to replace ‘appoint’ with ‘elect’.” — Yuriy Holyk
Published on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Holyk’s viewpoints ignite an essential debate about the urgent need to reform Ukraine’s political system.
Holyk’s recommendations reflect widespread societal concerns about the quality of public administration in Ukraine. Raising the standards for government officials and introducing market-based remuneration could be crucial steps toward enhancing the efficiency and integrity of state institutions. This issue is especially relevant given the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces related to corruption and ineffective governance.