Rada snubs Vitrenko for First Vice PM, energy minister post, again

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has once again failed to support the motion to appoint a former top manager with National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine, Yuriy Vitrenko, as first vice prime minister, minister of energy.

Read alsoWeek's balance: IMF mission starts SBA revision, Cabinet appoints acting energy minister, and Naftogaz ups gas price for thermal distributorsSome 311 lawmakers backed his nomination, with a required minimum of 226 votes, an UNIAN correspondent reported on January 28.

"We'll persistently be working to ensure that [utility] tariffs are understandable and affordable for people, while their salaries rise, so that fewer people have to apply for subsidies," Vitrenko said before the vote.

"We'll tell people the truth, on the one hand ensuring Ukraine's real energy independence, and on the other hand working to stop abuses by monopolists. We'll be putting pressure on our external foes so that they couldn't block, for example, the possibility for Ukraine or Europe to receive gas, say, from Turkmenistan. This will be done in Ukraine's interests. First of all, we'll be boosting domestic gas production," he added.

Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities has endorsed his candidacy.

"The Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities has supported the candidacy of Yuriy Vitrenko for the post of first vice prime minister, minister of energy," Chairman of the Committee Andriy Gerus wrote on Telegram.

Gerus added that 14 committee members voted in favor, two against, and two abstained.

Vote on Vitrenko nomination: Background

• On December 17, the Verkhovna Rada did not support the appointment of the former top manager of Naftogaz of Ukraine, Yuriy Vitrenko, as first vice prime minister, minister of energy. A total of 186 lawmakers backed his nomination, with the required minimum of 226 votes.
• On December 21, the government appointed Vitrenko acting energy minister.
• December 22, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov said in an interview with a Ukrainian TV channel that the appointment of Vitrenko as acting energy minister, bypassing parliament vote, would not facilitate cooperation with the government.