Ukraine's prime minister resigns in televised address
Comments
My decision is based on several reasons
- Arseniy Yatsenyuk resigns
- Blames “politicians’ failure to enact real changes”
- Speaker of Parliament tipped as replacement
The news
The Ukrainian Prime Minister says he is to step down.
#BREAKING: Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has announced that he is stepping down. https://t.co/QSMiflgQS3
— RFE/RL (@RFERL) April 10, 2016
Arseniy Yatsenyuk tendered his resignation in a televised broadcast on Sunday.
He is blaming what he describes as “politicians’ failure to enact ‘real changes’” and says he will inform parliament on Tuesday.
His government has been accused of inaction and corruption.
The context
Yatsenyuk has been in office since pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014.
He has resisted pressure to resign since surviving a no-confidence vote in February.
The current President, Petro Poroshenko, asked him to quit at the time.
Poroshenko felt the prime minister had lost support.
Poroshenko’s BPP and Yatsenyuk’s People’s Front party were expected to announce the formation of a new coalition next week.
Yatseniuk resigns as Prime Minister (cue Groisman) https://t.co/qLpz1UEJaWpic.twitter.com/elwf8fMgYD
— Nikolai Holmov (@OdessaBlogger) April 10, 2016
Parliamentary speaker Vlodymyr Groysman is being tipped as Yatsenyuk’s successor.
What they are saying
“I took the decision to resign as prime minister of Ukraine. On Tuesday, April 12, I will submit it to parliament. My decision is based on several reasons – the political crisis in the government has been deliberately unleashed. the desire to change one person has blinded politicians and paralysed their will to bring about real changes in the country.” – Arseniy Yatsenyuk.