Shmyhal Government Explained

Cabinet Name:Shmyhal Government
Cabinet Number:21st
Jurisdiction:Ukraine
Incumbent:2020–present
Date Formed:4 March 2020
Government Head:Denys Shmyhal
Deputy Government Head:Oleksiy Lyubchenko (2021)
Yulia Svyrydenko (2021–)
State Head:Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Current Number:22
Legislature Status:Majority government
Election:2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election
Opposition Parties:European Solidarity
Batkivshchyna
Platform for Life and Peace
Holos
Restoration of Ukraine
Opposition Leaders:Petro Poroshenko
Yulia Tymoshenko
Yuriy Boyko
Kira Rudyk
Maxim Efimov
Previous:Honcharuk Government
Flag:Flag of Ukraine.svg
Political Party:Servant of the People
State Head Title:President
Government Head Title:Prime Minister
Deputy Government Head Title:First Deputy Prime Minister
Other Government Minister:Mykhailo Fedorov (2020–)
Vadym Prystaiko (2020)
Oleksiy Reznikov (2020–2021)
Olha Stefanishyna (2020–)
Oleh Uruskyi (2020–2021)
Iryna Vereshchuk (2021–)
Oleksandr Kubrakov (2022–)
Other Government Minister Title:Deputy Prime Ministers

The Shmyhal government (Ukrainian: Уряд Дениса Шмигаля|Uriad Denysa Shmyhalia) is the current government of Ukraine, formed on 4 March 2020 and led by Denys Shmyhal, who was previously serving as Deputy Prime Minister in the Honcharuk government, and the Governor of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.[1] [2]

History

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's first government was the Honcharuk Government, formed after the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election. However, Zelenskyy was dissatisfied with the government due to high ministerial salaries and poor performance. On 3 March 2020, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk tendered his resignation, and by law this triggered the automatic resignation of the Honcharuk Government.[3] In his 4 March 2020 address to the parliament, Zelenskyy expressed his hope for a stronger government,[4] and that day Honcharuk was dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) and Denys Shmyhal was appointed prime minister.[5] [6]

The transition from the Honcharuk government was treated in some local press as worrisome, with the Kyiv Post calling it "hasty" and "awkward".[7] [8]

Appointment of Shmyhal as Prime Minister

The appointment of Shmyhal as the Prime Minister of Ukraine was approved by the Verkhovna Rada in a special session on 4 March 2020. Shmyhal was an acting vice prime minister at the time of his appointment; he had previously served as Governor of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. 291 people's deputies voted for his candidacy, while the members of most of the other factions (Opposition Platform — For Life, European Solidarity, Batkivshchyna, and Holos) did not support it.[1]

Appointment vote
Denys Shmyhal (Independent)
FactionForAgainstAbstainedDid not voteAbsent
Servant of the People2482420105
Opposition Platform — For Life44035234
European Solidarity27024012
Batkivshchyna24002013
For the Future22180022
Independents21140412
Holos20001910
Dovira17170000
Total4232915946918
Source[9]

Composition

At the time of appointment of the government five minister seats remained vacant at the following ministries: the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Education.[5] Four ministers kept the same post as they had in the previous Honcharuk government: the Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy, and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.[5] Two ministers switched posts: Vadym Prystaiko left the Foreign Ministry and became the Deputy Prime Minister for Eurointegration while Dmytro Kuleba did the complete opposite, taking on the post of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[5] On 18 May 2021 parliament dismissed Krykliy as Minister.[10]

All the ministerial posts — apart from those of the Ministers of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs that were put forward for voting by President Zelensky as these post are presidential nominations[11] — were voted in by a package vote, with the support of 277 people's deputies.[5]

Health Minister Illia Yemets and Finance Minister Ihor Umanskyi were dismissed by the parliament on 30 March 2020.[12]

Initially the government did not have a separate Environmental Minister (the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection was at first responsible for environmental policies), but on 19 June 2020 Roman Abramovsky was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.[13]

On 4 July 2020 President Zelensky announced that a (new post of) Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Policy could appear in the government in a week.[14] On 16 July 2020 Oleh Urusky was appointed Vice Prime Minister responsible for the new Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine.[15] [16]

In the (previous government installed in August 2019) Honcharuk government the ministry responsible for agricultural policies was the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture.[17] But in January 2020 President Zelensky stated the need to split the agriculture part of this Ministry.[18] When the Shmyhal government was formed the Minister (in the Honcharuk government) of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, Tymofiy Mylovanov refused to head a newly reestablish Ministry of Agriculture.[19] On 9 July 2020 Zelensky predicted that "at maximum in September" Ukraine would have a separate Minister of Agriculture again.[18] On 17 December 2020 Roman Leshchenko was appointed as Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food.[20] Mykola Solskyi replaced him on 24 March 2022.[21]

Veteran Minister Serhiy Bessarab resigned on 16 December 2020 for health reasons.[22] He was replaced two days later with Yulia Laputina.[23]

On 18 May 2021 the Ukrainian parliament dismissed Ihor Petrashko as Minister of Economic Development and Trade.[24] Two days later his successor became Oleksiy Liubchenko, who was also appointed First Deputy Prime Minister.[25] Liubchenko was dismissed by Parliament on 3 November 2021.[26]

On 12 July 2021 Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov announced that he had submitted his resignation as Interior Minister, and his resignation was accepted by parliament two days later.[27] [28] On 16 July 2021 Denys Monastyrsky was appointed Avakov's successor.[29] Following his January 2023 death in a helicopter crash, Monastyrsky was succeeded by Ihor Klymenko on 7 February 2023.[30] [31]

Environmental minister Roman Abramovsky and minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleh Urusky and Minister of Defence Andriy Taran were dismissed by Parliament on 3 November 2021.[32] [33] [34]

On 2 December 2022 the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development and the Ministry of Infrastructure were merged, creating the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure. Infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov took over as head of the combined ministry.[35]

Three Ministers were dismissed by parliament on 20 March 2023; Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet, Minister of Strategic Industries Pavlo Riabikin and the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.[36] The same day parliament received Prime Minister Shmyhal's submissions on the appointment of three ministers; Mykhailo Fedorov as Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology, Minister of Digital Transformation, Oksen Lisovyi as Minister of Education and Science and Oleksandr Kamyshin as Minister of Strategic Industries.[37] On 21 March 2023 all three were appointed to these posts.[38]

On 27 July 2023 Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko was dismissed by parliament after criticism, also by President Zelensky, of government spending on Ukrainian culture during wartime.[39]

On 6 September 2023 Rustem Umierov replaced Oleksii Reznikov as defense minister of Ukraine.[40]

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Prime MinisterDenys Shmyhal4 March 2020IncumbentIndependent
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Digital Transformation
Mykhailo Federov4 March 202020 March 2023SN
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories
Oleksii Reznikov4 March 20203 November 2021Independent
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of UkraineVadym Prystaiko4 March 20204 June 2020Independent
Minister of Foreign AffairsDmytro Kuleba4 March 2020IncumbentIndependent
Minister of DefenceAndrii Taran4 March 20203 November 2021Independent
Minister of JusticeDenys Maliuska4 March 2020IncumbentSN
Minister of FinanceIhor Umanskyi4 March 202030 March 2020Independent
Minister of Internal AffairsArsen Avakov4 March 202015 July 2021NF
Minister of InfrastructureVladyslav Kryklii4 March 202018 May 2021SN
Minister of Social PolicyMaryna Lazebna4 March 202018 July 2022Independent
Minister of Communities and Territories DevelopmentOleksii Chernyshov4 March 20203 November 2022Independent
Minister of Youth and SportsVadym Huttsait4 March 20209 November 2023Independent
Minister of Culture, Youth and SportsAnatolii Maksymchuk 4 March 202010 March 2020Independent
Minister of HealthIllia Yemets4 March 202030 March 2020Independent
Minister of Veterans AffairsSerhii Bessarab4 March 202016 December 2020Independent
Minister of Cabinet of MinistersOleh Nemchinov4 March 2020IncumbentIndependent

Changes March 2020

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture10 March 202017 March 2020Holos
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports10 March 202023 March 2020Independent
Minister of Education and Science10 March 202025 March 2020Independent
Minister of Energy and Environment10 March 202016 April 2020Independent
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and AgricultureIhor Petrashko17 March 202018 May 2021Independent
Minister of Culture and Information Policy23 March 20204 June 2020Independent
Minister of Education and Science25 March 202025 June 2020Independent
Minister of FinanceSerhii Marchenko30 March 2020IncumbentIndependent
Minister of HealthMaksym Stepanov30 March 202018 May 2021SN

Changes April 2020

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Energy and Environment16 April 20203 June 2020Independent

Changes June 2020

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Energy3 June 202020 November 2020Independent
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of UkraineOlha Stefanishyna4 June 2020IncumbentSN
Minister of Culture and Information PolicyOleksandr Tkachenko4 June 2020IncumbentSN
Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural ResourcesRoman Abramovskyi19 June 20203 November 2021Independent
Minister of Education and ScienceSerhii Shkarlet25 June 202020 March 2023Independent

Changes July 2020

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Strategic Industries
Oleh Uruskyi16 July 20203 November 2021Independent

Changes November 2020

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of EnergyYurii Boiko 20 November 202021 December 2020Independent

Changes December 2020

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Agrarian Policy and FoodRoman Leshchenko17 December 202024 March 2022Independent
Minister of Veterans AffairsYulia Laputina18 December 2020IncumbentIndependent
Minister of Energy21 December 202028 April 2021Independent

Changes April 2021

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of EnergyHerman Halushchenko29 April 2021IncumbentIndependent

Changes May 2021

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of HealthViktor Liashko20 May 2021IncumbentIndependent
Minister of InfrastructureOleksandr Kubrakov20 May 20211 December 2022SN
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Economy
Oleksii Liubchenko20 May 20213 November 2021Independent

Changes July 2021

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Internal AffairsDenys Monastyrsky16 July 202118 January 2023SN

Changes November 2021

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Economy
Yulia Svyrydenko4 November 2021IncumbentIndependent
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories
Iryna Vereshchuk4 November 2021IncumbentSN
Minister of DefenceOleksii Reznikov4 November 20215 September 2023Independent
Minister of Strategic IndustriesPavlo Riabikin4 November 202120 March 2023Independent
Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural ResourcesRuslan Strilets4 November 2021IncumbentIndependent

Changes March 2022

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Agrarian Policy and FoodMykola Solskyi24 March 2022IncumbentSN

Changes July 2022

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Social PolicyOksana Zholnovych19 July 2022IncumbentIndependent

Changes December 2022

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine
Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development
Oleksandr Kubrakov1 December 2022IncumbentSN

Changes January 2023

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Internal AffairsIhor Klymenko18 January 2023IncumbentIndependent

Changes March 2023

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Strategic IndustriesOleksandr Kamyshin21 March 2023IncumbentIndependent
Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development
Minister of Digital Transformation
Mykhailo Federov21 March 2023IncumbentSN
Minister of Education and ScienceOksen Lisovyi21 March 2023IncumbentIndependent

Changes July 2023

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Culture and Information PolicyRostyslav Karandieiev 28 July 2023IncumbentIndependent

Changes September 2023

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of DefenceRustem Umierov5 September 2023IncumbentHolos

Changes November 2023

OfficeNameTook officeLeft officeParty
Minister of Youth and SportsMatvii Bidnyi 9 November 2023IncumbentIndependent

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Денис Шмигаль – новий прем'єр України. Ukrayinska Pravda. uk. 2020-03-08.
  2. Web site: Денис Шмигаль – новий прем'єр України . 2022-09-08 . Українська правда . uk.
  3. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2889890-ukrainian-parliament-approves-new-government-composition.html Ukrainian parliament approves new government composition
  4. News: Zelenskyy . Volodymyr . 4 March 2020 . Speech by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada . PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE Official website .
  5. https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/ukrainian-parliament-votes-in-new-pm-denys-shmyhal A New Government for Ukraine: One Female Minister and "Indispensable" Arsen Avakov
  6. https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-03-05/denys-shmyhal-new-prime-minister-ukraine Denys Shmyhal is the new Prime Minister of Ukraine
  7. News: Talant . Bermet . Hasty government reshuffle sows disquiet at home, abroad . Kyiv Post . 6 March 2020 .
  8. News: Sorokin . Oleksiy . Shmygal's awkward start as nation's prime minister . Kyiv Post . 6 March 2020.
  9. Web site: http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/radan_gs09/ns_golos?g_id=4315 . 2023-11-17 . w1.c1.rada.gov.ua.
  10. https://www.unian.info/politics/cabinet-reshuffle-ukraine-s-parliament-accepts-infrastructure-ministry-s-resignation-11424160.html Ukrainian parliament accepts Infrastructure Ministry's resignation
  11. https://www.unian.info/m/politics/10900394-member-of-parliament-shares-list-of-possible-members-of-government.html Member of Parliament shares list of possible members of government
  12. https://www.unian.info/politics/10937444-ukraine-s-rada-sacks-health-finance-ministers-amid-virus-crisis.html Ukraine's Rada sacks health, finance ministers amid virus crisis
  13. https://www.unian.info/m/politics/government-reshuffle-rada-backs-appointment-of-new-environment-minister-11043038.html Ukraine's parliament backs appointment of new environment minister
  14. "Servants of the People" have decided on the Deputy Prime Minister of Industrial Policy, waiting for support in the Rada, Ukrayinska Pravda (10 July 2020)
  15. https://www.unian.info/m/politics/strategic-appointment-urusky-appointed-deputy-pm-minister-for-strategic-industry-11077157.html Urusky appointed Ukraine's deputy PM, minister for strategic industrial sectors
  16. A new ministry has appeared in Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda (22 July 2020)
  17. https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2019/08/29/7224810/ New Cabinet formed in Ukraine The Rada appointed the new Cabinet: Avakov and Markarova remained
  18. https://www.epravda.com.ua/news/2020/07/9/662777/ President: At most in September we will have a separate Minister of Agrarian Policy
  19. https://www.epravda.com.ua/news/2020/03/5/657749/ Milovanov explained why he refused to work in the new government
  20. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3156609-parliament-appoints-leshchenko-as-agricultural-policy-minister.html Parliament appoints Leshchenko as agricultural policy minister
  21. https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-agriculture-solskyi-idUSL5N2VR2XE Lawmaker Solskyi accepts offer to become Ukraine's agriculture minister
  22. The council fired the veterans' minister, Ukrayinska Pravda (16 December 2020)
  23. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3157277-laputina-appointed-as-minister-for-veterans-afffairs.html Laputina appointed as Ukraine's minister for veterans afffairs
  24. https://www.unian.info/politics/cabinet-reshuffle-lawmakers-back-economy-ministry-s-resignation-11424238.html Lawmakers back Economy Ministry's resignation
  25. https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/745255.html Rada appoints Liubchenko as First Dpty PM, Minister of Economy – 293 affirmative votes
  26. https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/777273.html Rada dismisses Liubchenko from post of First Dpty PM, Economy Minister
  27. https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/755809.html Rada supports Avakov's resignation
  28. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-interior-minister-resigns-2021-07-13/ Ukraine's interior minister resigns
  29. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3281876-parliament-appoints-monastyrsky-as-ukraines-interior-minister.html Parliament appoints Monastyrsky as Ukraine's interior minister
  30. Web site: Government appoints acting Minister of Internal Affairs . 2023-02-06 . www.kmu.gov.ua . en.
    Web site: Уряд призначив Клименка виконувачем обов'язків міністра внутрішніх справ . The government appointed Klymenko as acting minister of internal affairs . 2023-01-18 . www.ukrinform.ua . 18 January 2023 . uk.
  31. National deputies voted for the new head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ukrainska Pravda (7 February 2023)
  32. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3344173-mps-dismiss-abramovsky-as-ukraines-environment-minister.html MPs dismiss Abramovsky as Ukraine's environment minister
  33. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3344182-parliament-dismisses-deputy-prime-minister-urusky.html Parliament dismisses Deputy Prime Minister Urusky
  34. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/3344201-verkhovna-rada-dismisses-defense-minister-andriy-taran.html Verkhovna Rada dismisses Defense Minister Andriy Taran
  35. Web site: OLEKSIY PAVLYSH . 2 December 2022 . The government merged the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Regions: the new ministry will be headed by Kubrakov . 2 December 2022 . . Ukrainian.
    Web site: 1 December 2022 . Rada appoints Kubrakov Dpty PM for restoration of Ukraine . 2 December 2022 . . English.
    Web site: OLEKSIY PAVLYSH . 1 December 2022 . Kubrakov was appointed vice prime minister - minister of infrastructure and regional development . 2 December 2022 . . Ukrainian.
  36. Web site: 20 March 2023. 20 March 2023. Verkhovna Rada dismisses three ministers. Ukrayinska Pravda. English.
  37. Web site: 20 March 2023. 20 March 2023. Rada received submissions for the appointment of three ministers. Ukrayinska Pravda. Ukrainian.
  38. Web site: 21 March 2023. 21 March 2023. The Verkhovna Rada appointed two ministers and a deputy prime minister. Ukrayinska Pravda. Ukrainian.
  39. News: 27 July 2023 . Parliament dismisses Culture Minister Tkachenko . . 27 July 2023 . English.
  40. Web site: Harmash . Olena . Dysa . Yuliia . Polityuk . Pavel . Heritage . Timothy . Ukraine's parliament approves ex-lawmaker Rustem Umerov as defence minister . 6 September 2023 . Reuters.