Lukashenka gathering an anti-crisis team?

Lukashenka has appointed new ministers of industry, transport, sport and natural resources, with all of the new officials being younger than their predecessors. Is it a move to fight the economic crisis? Effective from June 26, Aliaksandr Radzevich who previously ran Hrodna Azot has been the minister of industry. Hrodna Azot is a large and relatively stable enterprise. Uladzimir Tsalko, former deputy emergencies minister, has been appointed to "save" the ministry of natural resources. Tsalko also headed the committee to eliminates the affects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Will his experience help to fight the affects of the economic crisis?

His former deputy Ivan Shcherba has been appointed as the minister of transport. The highest career jump was made on June 26 by Aleh Kachan. He was promoted to the post of the sports minister from the position of the head of the physical culture, sports and tourism department at the Minsk Region Executive Committee.

Political analyst Sviatlana Navumava reckons that the recent reshuffle in the Belarusian cabinet is part of Lukashenka's consistent efforts to rejuvenate his team. "As far as I understand, he is pursuing a consistent policy of rejuvenating his team. He is bringing in a new generation of top managers", she said.

Indeed, the new industry minister is six years younger that Anatol Rusetski. The new transport minister is two years younger than Uladzimir Sasnouski. The new sports minister is much much younger than Aliaksandr Hryharau who was born in 1948. And even Uladzimir Tsalko, born in 1952, is one year younger than former minister Liavontsi Kharuzhyk.

However, former lawmaker Siarhei Haidukevich notes that a plan of actions, not a reshuffle, is needed in order to cope with the economic crisis.

But, will Aleh Kachan, a former Minsk Region administration official, find a program of anti-crisis management?

Pavel Mazheika, a prominent journalist from Hrodna, doubts the ability of former Hrodna Azot manager and new industry minister Aliaksandr Radzevich to cope with the crisis:

“As far as I know, workers were fired from the satellite enterprises that served Hrodna Azot in the recent months. Moreoever, the independent trade union at Hrodna Azot now has just several dozens of people, while there were several hundreds up to one thousand before!"

On June 26, the industry ministry received a good manager but an tough boss. But, in the view of Pavel Mazheika, managers with a free thinking are required to cope with the crisis:

“In today's situation, there is a need for defiant people who will fight for their cause despite disagreements with the country's leadership. But the current leadership does not need such people. Therefore, these changes look like a usual reshuffle, seeking among those who are more loyal, not more efficient”.

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