New composition of government ensures balance of interests between groups of influence in ruling elite, says expert

The new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ensures a certain balance of interests between different groups of influence in the ruling elite, Deputy Director of the Situations Modeling Agency Oleksiy Holobutsky has said.

"These are good appointments in the context of the policy that has recently been conducted by the president. These are old new Prime Minister [Mykola Azarov] and more functional appointments that give a certain strengthening. There remained some significant figures who represent certain groups of interests. With the help of [Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr] Vilkul a curtsy has been made towards the Dnipropetrovsk elite, which was not represented in the previous government. Thus, a certain parity of interests has been observed," he told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday, while commenting on the new appointments made by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

In his opinion, the new government could be described as a "government of technocrats."

The expert also noted that changes in the executive branch of government had not strengthened it, but the influence of businessman Rinat Akhmetov remained significant.

Holobutsky said that the appointment of Ukraine-Forward! Party leader Natalia Korolevska as social policy minister was also an element of some consensus.

"It's a person from another political party. And it's a sign of the desire to conduct a nationwide policy, at least to keep up appearances," he said.

The analyst also agreed that Serhiy Arbuzov's appointment as first deputy prime minister was a signal that he could be appointed prime minister.