Ukrainian presidential party expels presidents in parliamentary vote

Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Dmytro Razumkov will address Members of Parliament during a parliamentary session in Kiev, Ukraine on October 7, 2021. REUTERS / Valentyn Ogirenko

October 7, 2021

Natalia Ginets and Valentin Ogilenco

Kiev (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s servant party on Thursday sacked parliament speaker Dmytro Razumkov, accusing him of putting his own interests ahead of those of the ruling party. Resolved to do.

Rasmkov was suspended on Tuesday and his dismissal was confirmed with 284 votes in a 450-seat parliament dominated by people’s servants.

According to Servant of the People, Vice President Ruslan Stephanchuk will be appointed in place of Rasmkov.

Rasmkov was a member of Zelensky’s grassroots electoral team when the president won an overwhelming majority in 2019. However, as a speaker, he opposed the swift passage of legislation to limit the influence of the oligarch on politics and business. Opposition representatives accused the Zelensky party of sacking the president, weakening democracy.

“We went (to Congress) to change the country and make it better… I tried to keep at least some of these promises,” Rasmkov said in Thursday’s parliamentary session. paddy field.

“The rule of law has been transformed into political convenience, and (and) the principle of the right to one’s position and freedom of expression has been replaced by the principle that ‘those who are not with us oppose we. “rice paddy.”

Opposition lawmakers say Zelensky’s oligarchy restraint law gives the president excessive power and opens more avenues for corruption. Zelenskiy says Ukraine must be protected from powerful businessmen who have destroyed its political system for decades.

Rasmkov wanted the bill sent back to the European rights body, the Venice Commission, but the bill was passed last month.

(Written by Matthias Williams, edited by Mark Heinrich)