Zelensky may intervene in conflict between Razumkov, Servant of People – Podoliak

KYIV. Sept 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky may possibly intervene in the conflict between Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov and the Servant of the People party, if it grows, Adviser to the President’s Office head Mykhailo Podoliak said.

However, he said that he was not ready to talk about the resignation of the chairman of parliament or members of the government, since these are internal affairs of the parliament and, accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to Podoliak, disagreements arose between Razumkov and the party, particularly, due to Razumkov’s unwillingness to vote at meetings of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) for the imposition of sanctions against businessman Viktor Medvedchuk and related television channels, the implementation of the land reform and the bill about de-oligarchization.

"I will say more: if today’s worldview conflict between Razumkov and the party continues to grow, the president will probably have to intervene. With tough decisions," Podoliak said in an interview with the Glavkom ezine on Tuesday.

The adviser to the President’s Office head said," the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada openly hinders the president’s key initiatives."

He also said today there are two options for Razumkov. "Either you are a key member of the team, because you are still the chairman of parliament and allow you to make the moderation processes on fundamental presidential initiatives more effective, or you declare that the oligarchs are good, and the current oligarchic system in the state is quite optimal […]. If the latter, you, of course, become an opponent to your own team. But you cannot sit on two chairs at once," Podoliak said.