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Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Political Novice as New PM

RFE/RL'S UKRAINIAN SERVICE

   Ukrainian lawmakers have approved 35-year-old lawyer Oleksiy Honcharuk
   as the country's new prime minister during parliament's first session
   since elections last month.

   Honcharuk, a political newcomer who previously worked in the
   presidential office, was nominated on August 29 by President Volodymyr
   Zelenskiy, a comedian-turned-politician who has pledged to "break the
   system" in Ukrainian politics.

   Despite his lack of experience, lawmakers easily approved Honcharuk
   with 290 deputies in the 450-seat house voting in favor of his
   appointment.

   Honcharuk has spent much of his career as a lawyer, eventually becoming
   a lead partner at a firm that specializes in real estate development.
   In 2015, he ran the EU-funded nongovernmental organization BRDO that
   focused on reforms and advised Stepan Kubiv, the first deputy prime
   minister during ex-President Petro Poroshenko's administration.

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