Poroshenko to become next cabinet member?

Olexander Yefremov, the head of the Party of Regions in parliament, said yesterday at a press conference that Petro Poroshenko will become Ukraine’s next economy minister, and Yuriy Kolobov – finance minister. Neither appointment has been confirmed officially. President Viktor Yanukovych’s website only said that Prime Minister Mykola Azarov had suggested Poroshenko, and that Yanukovych asked Poroshenko to draw up an action plan if he assumed the post. Since 2007, Poroshenko has been the head of the council of the National Bank of Ukraine; he previously served as foreign minister and secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and is the beneficiary owner of Ukrprominvest. Kolobov is currently the first deputy NBU governor.

Brad Wells: If Poroshenko and/or Kolobov are confirmed, we do not expect a major shift in government policy, and view the appointments as mostly designed to quell criticism of the government ahead of the October parliamentary elections.