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New Ukrainian president dissolves parliament moments after inauguration

UKRAINIAN TV star Volodymyr Zelenskiy dissolved the country's parliament today minutes after he was sworn in as the new president.

The right-winger won 73 per cent of the vote last month in a landslide victory, amid public anger over corruption and the conflict with Russia.

Mr Zelenskiy’s move to dissolve the Verkhovna Rada followed his calls to adopt a bill to establish criminal liability for illegal enrichment, and to support his motion to fire the country’s defence minister, head of security service, and the prosecutor general — all allies of former President Petro Poroshenko.

The country’s Communist Party, which has been banned and was barred from standing in the presidential elections or the last parliamentary ones, said Mr Zelenskiy could demonstrate his willingness to abandon political repression by allowing it to participate.

In a speech after his inauguration, Mr Zelenskiy told parliament that his main goal for the presidency is to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, adding that he is “ready to do everything so that our heroes don't die.”

He has previously praised the Ukranian nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera as somene who defended the freedom of Ukraine and said supporting him was “a cool thing.”

Mr Zelenskiy urged everyone in the cabinet to resign.

Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak promptly published his letter of resignation on Facebook.

Mr Zelenskiy — a comedian who played the role of president on TV — also called for a snap parliamentary election.

Ukrainian Communist leader Petro Symonenko said: “[Zelenskiy] must demonstrate his loyalty to his words, ensuring the opportunity for the Communist Party and the Communists to participate in elections to the country's highest legislative body with equal opportunities.”
 

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