Ukraine's new leader gets sworn in, dissolves parliament
Posted May 20, 2019 7:00 am
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukrainian TV star Volodymyr Zelenskiy was sworn in as the country's new president on Monday, promised to stop the war in the country's east against Russian-backed separatists and immediately disbanded parliament, which he has branded as a group only interested in self-enrichment.
Even before he disbanded the Supreme Rada, which had been one of his campaign promises, the 41-year-old Zelenskiy had upended the traditions of Ukrainian politics.
He ditched the idea of a traditional motorcade to his inauguration, walking to the parliament through a park packed with people. Flanked by four bodyguards, he was giving high-fives to some spectators and even stopped to take a selfie with one of them.
Before he made the announcement, Zelenskiy asked the Supreme Rada to adopt a bill against illegal enrichment and support his motions to fire the country's defense minister, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service and the Prosecutor General. All of them are allies of former President Petro Poroshenko, who lost the presidential election in a landslide to the comedian with no previous political experience.
In a feisty speech after his inauguration, Zelenskiy told the Rada that his main goal for the presidency is to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, where government troops have been fighting Russia-backed separatists for five years.
"I'm ready to do everything so that our heroes don't die there," he said. "I'm ready to lose my popularly and, if necessary, I'm ready to lose my post so that we have peace."
Zelenskiy garnered 73% of the vote at the presidential election last month in a victory that reflected Ukrainians' exhaustion with politics-as-usual. For years, he has played the Ukrainian president in a popular television show.
The new president wrapped up his speech at parliament by referring to his career as a comedian.
"Throughout all of my life, I tried to do everything to make Ukrainians laugh," he said with a smile. "In the next five years I will do everything so that Ukrainians don't cry."
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Vasilyeva reported from Moscow.
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy greeds his supporters before inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Zelenskiy overwhelming won the presidential election last month, beating incumbent Petro Poroshenko. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Friday, April 19, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian presidential candidate and popular comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy listens to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during their final electoral campaign debate at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy smiles after the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy greets his supporters at his headquarters after the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy leaves a booth at a polling station during the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures at a polling station, during the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, April 20, 2019 file photo, a Ukrainian serviceman guards a position near the frontline as the conflict continues, in Mariinka, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Wednesday, April 17, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian sailors sit in a cage in a courtroom in Moscow, Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com.. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Monday, April 1, 2019 file photo, the Stepova coal mine just before dawn in Pershotravensk, Dnipropetrovsk region, eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds a mace, the Ukrainian symbol of power during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy swears on the Bible as he takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy swears on the Bible as he takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy sings the national anthem during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, center, sings the national anthem during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds the Ukrainian symbols of power during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy stands on a podium during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds the Ukrainian symbols of power during his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The Associated Press
Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy greets supporters before his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
The Associated Press
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