Page 10 - UKRRptAug20

international reserves to meet some $17bn in debt redemptions due this year.
“Net net - reform seems to be dead in Ukraine. The IMF programme will be frozen. I expect a weak candidate to be nominated to head the NBU and monetary policy to be loosened and the currency devalued. Ukraine still has very large budget financing needs to year end and it is hard to see how they can cover these without resort to NBU financing and depletion of FX reserves. Reserves are $29bn but these could be run down fairly fast with accelerated capital flight,” says Ash.
2.3​ ​A year on Zelenskiy losing his shine in the polls
Results of the survey carried out by the Sociological Group Rating on July 16-17, 2020 revealed that 55% of respondents actively monitor political events in Ukraine. 25% do it sometimes, 14% - rarely; 6% - are not interested in politics at all. At the same time, the older the respondents, the more often they monitor political events. Compared to April of this year, the number of those interested in news on domestic politics has increased.
Almost 30% of respondents believe that the current parliament is more effective as compared to the previous Verkhovna Rada, while a quarter shares the opposing view and believes the previous parliament was more effective. At the same time, almost half of the polled /are of the opinion that there is no special difference between them. The activities of the current convocation Verkhovna Rada is best assessed by the youth and “Sluha Narodu” voters. The worst rates were provided by “European Solidarity” voters: most of them believe the previous parliament was more effective.
Among the state authorities, respondents assess the performance of President Zelenskiy relatively better (37% of the polled are satisfied with the work of the Head of State, 59% share the opposing opinion). 25% are satisfied with the activities of the Head of the Verkhovna Rada Razumkov, 57% are dissatisfied. Only 16% are satisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Shmygal, and 65% are dissatisfied.
Among the parliamentary factions,” Sluha Narodu” faction received relatively better rates (satisfaction level among all - 32%, among party voters - 90%). About a quarter of the polled are satisfied with the activities of “Opposition Platform – Za Zhyttia”,” European Solidarity”, and “Batkivshchyna” factions, and about 70% are dissatisfied. 17% of respondents are satisfied with the activities of “Holos” faction, and 73% are dissatisfied. The age distribution of factions’ assessments is quite indicative - young people are relatively more satisfied with the activities of “Sluha Narodu” faction, while those seniors – with “Opposition Platform - Za Zhyttia”,” European Solidarity”, and “Batkivshchyna” factions.
Return to the Criminal Code of the article on punishment for illicit enrichment and the introduction of criminal liability of deputies for "button-making" are those decisions of parliament, which were most positively assessed by respondents (about 90%).
Also, such implemented initiatives received high level of support (60% to 80%): abolition of parliamentary immunity, granting volunteers with the war participant status, loans for entrepreneurs at low rates (5%, 7%, and 9%),
10​ UKRAINE Country Report​ August 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com