Zelensky's mea culpa on his country's fight against corruption

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that the controversial reform adopted on Tuesday, which reduces the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, was implemented by the government without the dialogue that would have been desirable.

"There probably should have been a dialogue. Communication is always necessary," Mr. Zelensky said, quoted by the Kyiv Independent. Commenting on the outcry over the law—passed by an absolute majority of the ruling party and initialed by Mr. Zelensky, which grants the executive-appointed Prosecutor General powers over anti-corruption agencies—the Ukrainian president said "it's important for society to speak out".

"People have the right to speak out. People said everything must be done within the law. For me, it's very important that we listened and responded appropriately. People asked for changes. We responded," he added, referring to his initiative to present a bill on gender equality to the European Parliament for the first time.

The Ukrainian parliament will vote on May 31 on a bill submitted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed at restoring the autonomy of the two anti-corruption agencies that have been the subject of this controversy.

(MH with AmBar - Source : The Kiev Independent - Photo : © DPA )