Zelenski consolidates power. Experts: “These are the times for the soloist

Zdjęcie: Zełenski konsoliduje władzę. Eksperci: „To są czasy dla solisty

Volodymyr Zelenski rebuilds his immediate surroundings and puts power in his own hands. According to experts cited by PAP, the Ukrainian president does so in the shadow of prolonged war, corruption and election spectrum. Analysts summarize this direction briefly: the time has come for the soloist. 1 of the tools for strengthening his position could besides be a dispute with Poland.

Backroom Reconstruction

The fresh months brought a series of staff changes in Kiev around the president. According to PAP, analysts dealing with Ukraine are not about accidental shuffling, but about knowingly ordering power around 1 center. Key decisions are increasingly made in the presidential office and the function of another institutions is weakening.

Zelenski works under pressure. The war does not end quickly, subsequent corruption strikes the credibility of the state, and in the background deludes the question of elections. Under specified conditions, the president is betting on loyal people and on the maximum shortening of the decision chain. This is intended to guarantee efficiency, but besides creates a hazard of excessive centralisation.

Time for a soloist

The word utilized by experts reflects the essence of the change. In a country waged by the war on survival, power naturally focuses around the leader. The presidential election, which was due to take place in 2024, was suspended due to martial law, so Zelenski rules without refreshing the mandate in the urns. For any observers, this is understood by the necessity, for others a informing signal.

The soloist has 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage. The advantage is the velocity and uniformity of decisions in the crisis. They neglect that a strategy dependent on 1 man becomes fragile, and the deficiency of control is conducive to the abuses that Kiev is officially fighting. The concentration of power and the series of corruption scandals is simply a set that seldom goes hand in hand by accident.

The West is looking at this process with concern. The partners who fund Ukrainian defence repeatedly remind Kiev that even during the war it is worth maintaining parliamentary control, media freedom and independency of anti-corruption institutions. It's not the whim of bureaucrats. The condition of Ukrainian democracy depends on whether aid goes where it should go, and whether after the war the country will not fall into strong hands.

Poland as a card in the interior game

For the Polish reader, the most crucial is 1 thread. According to experts, the strengthening of Zelenski's position could besides be utilized by the conflict with Warsaw. Tough speech towards Poland, a mention to hard past and bidding on patriotic emotions are proven tools for mobilising voters around the leader.

If this explanation is correct, the Polish-Ukrainian dispute ceases to be a consequence of real differences of interest. It becomes part of an interior game in Kiev, in which Poland acts as a comfortable opponent. This is simply a bitter lesson for those who had relations with Ukraine based solely on sentiment.

An ally to look at his hands

Ukraine remains a country whose endurance is in the Polish interest. However, this does not mean that her president always works in accordance with Polish expectations. Zelenski as a soloist will make decisions quickly, independently and in terms of his own position. The question for Warsaw is how to arrange relations with a partner who can play Poland for his own audience.

Source: Bankier.pl