Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s new President, in a somewhat surprise move, dismissed his parliament upon assuming office and called an early election.
Zelensky addressing MPs and dignitaries in his first presidential speech announced a snap parliamentary election. The election was scheduled to take place in October 2019.
This climatic decision was announced at the end of Zelensky’s inauguration speech, which aligned Ukraine with Europe as “our common dream” as well as inviting emigrated Ukrainians home so that their “knowledge, experience and their mental values” may help the country develop. He said ending the conflict with Russian-backed rebels in the east would be his top priority.
This means elections will be held in Ukraine this summer. As it stands, there are no lawmakers from Zelensky’s party in government, yet his party is currently the most popular in the country. Given that there is no coalition, it is within the president’s right to dismiss the parliament.
