Zelensky remains most trusted politician as public blames Yermak, Shmyhal

Ukrainian President Zelensky remains the nation’s most
popular politician, enjoying the trust of 44% of the public (compared to 53%
who distrust him), according to a poll released on Dec. 2 by the Rating
Sociological Group. The second-most trusted politician is Kyiv Mayor Vitali
Klitschko, who has earned the trust of 33% of the public (compared to 54% who
distrust him). The third-ranked politician is former PM Volodymyr Groysman, who
is trusted by 31% of the public (compared to 58% who distrust him). The poll
was conducted between Nov. 28 and 30 involving 2,500 respondents.

Zenon Zawada: The power
of celebrity is intense among Ukrainians, considering the most popular
politicians are a television star and world champion boxer. Zelensky’s
celebrity luster is particularly powerful as Ukrainians have decided to dump
the blame for government’s failures on his righthand man Andriy Yermak (9% trust
vs. 44% distrust) and the low-key PM Denys Shmyhal (15% trust vs. 46%
distrust). The same poll revealed that 34% of the public can’t even identify
who Shmyhal is.

It’s Zelensky’s popularity among the public that has held
his administration together, despite most political observers recognizing his
failure as president. He has allowed much of what his predecessor achieved to
slip away (particularly with the war in Donbas and the anti-corruption sphere),
while building little on top of the foundation that he inherited.

While we were expecting his public support to be
largely evaporated at this point, it continues to defy gravity instead (though
he scores lower on polls asking the public whether they would vote for him). We
can only watch in amusement as this spectacle continues, with Zelensky on track
to completing his five-year term despite all that has been lost under his
tenure, in terms of time, energy and political capital in integrating with the
West.