The appointment of Serhiy Koretsky as Prime Minister has again raised questions about the division of power between the president and the Cabinet of Ministers. Yaroslav Zheleznyak believes that open confrontation is unlikely, but the new government should become more independent in decision-making.
Why conflicts arise between the president and the prime minister
According to the Constitution, the president is the head of state, while the Cabinet of Ministers heads the executive power. The prime minister manages the work of the government, which is responsible for the economy, budget, social policy, and the enforcement of laws.
At the same time, the president influences the formation of security and foreign policy blocks, submits individual personnel nominations to parliament, and can stop acts of the Cabinet due to non-compliance with the Constitution while simultaneously appealing to the Constitutional Court. This distribution is enshrined in the Fundamental Law of Ukraine.
In Zheleznyak's opinion, this model creates constant competition for real influence. Similar contradictions arose between Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko, Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych, as well as between Petro Poroshenko and the governments of Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Volodymyr Groysman.
However, the deputy does not consider the constitutional structure to be the main problem of public administration. According to him, it can ensure a balance if parliament, government, and president remain independent and act within their powers.
Changing the Constitution during martial law is prohibited. Therefore, a transition to a fully parliamentary or presidential model is possible only after its completion.
Will a conflict between Zelensky and Koretsky arise in 2026
Zheleznyak does not expect open confrontation between Volodymyr Zelensky and Serhiy Koretsky, who took over the government on July 16. He believes that strategic and politically significant decisions will continue to be associated with the president.
At the same time, Koretsky may strengthen the independence of the Cabinet in daily management. This concerns personnel decisions, economic policy, and the implementation of government programs, where the prime minister must form his own position and refute the president when necessary.
The real independence of the Cabinet will depend not only on the Constitution but also on the support of the parliamentary majority. If the government has enough votes in the Verkhovna Rada, the President's Office's ability to influence its work will be more limited.
Earlier, Zheleznyak announced a crackdown on corrupt officials due to EU requirements and 90 billion euros.