What's Budanov's real motivation?

For an intelligence chief, this is quite natural. But for the head of the President's Office, one would like to have significantly more public information.

Certain information could be obtained from an electronic declaration, but no such person exists in public access. Consequently, we are deprived of even a minimal dataset for analysis.

"However, the key question lies elsewhere: for which specific position does Volodymyr Zelenskyy intend to appoint Kyrylo Budanov — head of the President's Office or to the position of 'Andriy Yermak?'"

It's worth recalling: nominally, the position of head of the President's Office is, in essence, secretarial. It is not mentioned a single time in laws on public administration and, accordingly, does not grant the right to make decisions or exercise political influence. The main task of the head of the President's Office is organizational support for the President's work. This position does not provide for any other powers.

In contrast, the position of head of the Main Intelligence Directorate is endowed with quite specific powers, clearly defined by law. From this perspective, transferring the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate from a real, substantive position to a formally "virtual" position of head of the President's Office should look like a demotion. Should — if we were guided exclusively by what is written in the laws.

"The only real value of the position of head of the President's Office is direct access to the president. It is precisely this that opens up the possibility of influencing presidential decisions in a shadow manner, and through them — the entire state administrative vertical."

Society's grievances against Andriy Yermak were not that he improperly used the formal powers of the head of the President's Office. The main grievance — in the complete absence of such powers, he actually became person number two in the system of public administration.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's motivation in the possible appointment of Kyrylo Budanov is not difficult to explain. Both have high electoral ratings, and in the case of a hypothetical start of an election campaign, there is hope for "adding" these ratings in one candidate. Budanov can also strengthen the negotiating position. Volodymyr Zelenskyy consistently demonstrates that he is comfortable with a "vice president," not a secretary in this position.

The main question remains open: what is Kyrylo Budanov's own motivation?

Source

About the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Ukrainian lawmaker.

The editorial office does not always share the opinions expressed by authors of blogs or columns.