MP Oleksandr Dubinskyi has proposed changing Denis Shmygal’s government program (aimed at overcoming the crisis), taking into account the obligations Ukraine incurs under the IMF Memorandum.

The draft agreement with the International Monetary Fund has been published recently. In many respects, it contradicts the 230-steps program of the Cabinet of Ministers. It contains a lot of unpleasant, but extremely important points:

1. The restrictions on increasing utility tariffs for the general public are canceled.

2. Market-based gas pricing schemes are being introduced in Ukraine. Our prices will rise together with world prices.

3. Starting October 1, heating tariffs will be increased. At the same time, our country undertook to review (raise) tariffs annually before the start of the heating season.

4. There is an obligation to further explore the possibilities of land reform and expand its application. It can result in raising the bar for the sale of more than 1000 hectares to one person and allow foreigners to buy allotments.

5. The pension reform will continue, which should lead to an increase in the retirement age in Ukraine.

6. The medical reform will be continued according to the plan of the former Minister of Health Suprun.

7. The restructuring of the education system should be launched, implying the closure of educational institutions and cost reduction.

8. The National Bank is not liable for the closure of banks and plundering assets of problem banks.

9. The National Bank undertook to maintain inflation at 5%, preventing the influx of money into the economy. That is, there will be no significant GDP growth.

10. The reform of state-owned banks’ management is reduced to even greater dependence on supervisory boards formed by foreigners.

11. A ban on the dismissal of corrupt law enforcement officials is introduced.

12. IMF gains control over the High Council of Justice - a body that coordinates and appoints judges in Ukraine.

13. The sale of large state-owned enterprises will be at a cheaper price, despite the ongoing crisis. Moreover, this includes large ones like Centroenergo or Odesa Port Plant, a monopolist in the production of nitrogen fertilizers.

14. Implementation of international practices that will be introduced by foreigners in the Antimonopoly Committee. So this body will also be under external control.

“All the key points of the IMF Memorandum should be included in the program of the Cabinet of Ministers so that the deputies and the people of Ukraine are not deceived later on. So that we are not told that the program has not been completed, because there were obligations to the International Monetary Fund. Everything should be transparent and clear when we give immunity to the Cabinet of Ministers. Everyone should understand what they will do with the country, including the receipt of the loan. It will be an honest thing to do,” Alexander Dubinskyi is convinced.

He also says that at today's meeting of the Verkhovna Rada he will initiate collection of signatures for the resignation of the acting Minister of Energy Olga Buslavets, whose leadership led to the fact that the production of more expensive thermal energy in Ukraine for the first 30 years exceeded the generation of nuclear power plants. As you know, the cost of nuclear energy is three times cheaper.

“This winter was not cold, a lot of coal accumulated at the enterprises of the oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. Money should be made, coal should be burned. To do this, they shut down the atom energy sector, and raise the thermal energy spending. As a result, electricity rises in price in total. And it all ends with an increase in tariffs: first for the industrial consumer, and then for the private one. Which, of course, cannot be done in a crisis. Therefore, Buslavets must be dismissed from the ministerial post, let her return to the private sector, and fight for its income,” Dubinskyi emphasizes.

Andrey Pshenichnyi for the site dubinsky.pro