The Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons announced his resignation on Tuesday, following the scandal caused by the tribute to a Ukrainian veteran who fought alongside the Nazis during the Second World War, during the visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to AFP.
Yaroslav Hunka is waiting in the Canadian House of Commons for the arrival of Volodymyr ZelenskyPhoto: Doyle Patrick/CP/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
“It is with a heavy heart that I rise to inform MPs of my resignation as Speaker of the House of Commons,” Anthony Rota told Parliament, speaking of his “deep regret for the mistake”.
Also on Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Tuesday that the Speaker of the House of Commons should resign, but he initially refused.
Last Friday, during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rota called the veteran a war hero, a Ukrainian immigrant.
But former soldier Yaroslav Hunka, 98, who was given a standing ovation by MPs twice, has emerged as having served in one of Adolf Hitler’s SS Waffen units during the Second World War. Russia called the incident scandalous.
