Zelensky names his candidate for prime minister: Oleksiy Honcharuk

Is the president's favourite already known?

President Volodymyr Zelensky will propose Oleksiy Honcharuk as his candidate for prime minister, according to Ukrainska Pravda, citing its own source.

On Wednesday, the president and the leadership of the Office of the President will hold interviews and consultations on candidates for other members of the government. This does not show distrust of Honcharuk, but simply a precaution to protect Zelensky's reputation. Public reaction will depend on the choice of prime minister.

Ukrainska Pravda previously suggested that current Interior Minister Arsen Avakov could become Honcharuk's deputy prime minister.

Oleksiy Honcharuk is deputy head of the Office of the President. He is trained as a lawyer. In 2014 he ran for the People's Deputies from the Sila Lyudey (Power of People) party.

Later, Oleksiy became an freelance adviser to Environment Minister Ihor Shevchenko. Honcharuk also worked as an adviser to First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv. In spring 2019, Dmytro Dubilet introduced Honcharuk to Andriy Bohdan. In his new job he developed a good relationship with Bohdan.

Now Honcharuk accompanies the newly minted president on work trips and at important economic meetings.