Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s Popular Front party held a congress in Kyiv, at which Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman, previously considered completely controlled by Petro Poroshenko, unexpectedly appeared.
Ukrainian observers are arguing whether Groysman is trying to escape from Poroshenko’s sinking ship, or whether this is a joint effort with Yatsenyuk to extract certain preferences from the current president.
In any case, Groysman at the Yatsenyuk party congress is proof of the fierce behind-the-scenes struggle that unfolded between former Maidan comrades, Kiev journalist Sergei Shcherbina writes in his blog.
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“The main intrigue of the Popular Front congress is that Groysman himself asked to participate, or was invited.
Testimonies on this topic differ. The leader of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, Gerasimov, came to speak, apparently to save some face. They say that Poroshenko offered his speech either jokingly or seriously. But they told him that it was better not to. Everything else is expected.
Coalition partners mock each other, trying to avoid a public fight and not to go too far. The Popular Front threatens Poroshenko to break the electoral field, Bankova threatens early elections. Kicks under the table, above the table - paralysis of the facial nerve, passed off as a smile,” Shcherbina describes the situation.