Razumkov dismissed as Verkhovna Rada speaker
7 October 2021
The Verkhovna Rada voted to dismiss Dmytro Razumkov as
speaker on Oct. 7. The MPs supported the measure with 284 votes (out of 226
needed), pravda.com.ua reported. MPs from the Opposition Platform For Life and
European Party factions voted against the measure, as did seven of the ruling
Servant of the People faction. The parliament is slated to vote on a new
speaker on Oct. 8.
James Hydzik: The move
was expected, albeit of questionable legitimacy, and Razumkov has already
stated that he will fight an illegal or unprocedural dismissal in the courts.
His replacement will certainly be more attentive to President Zelensky’s vision
of how the parliament should be run.
Current first vice-speaker of the Verkhovna Rada,
Ruslan Stefanchuk, is widely expected to take the speaker’s post. Notably, this
morning, Zelensky issued an order to terminate Stefanchuk’s status of
president’s representative in the Verkhovna Rada, which can be considered as
the last step required for him to gain the new position in the parliament.
