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Russia Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ex-Ukrainian president accuses Zelensky of ‘authoritarianism'
Former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has accused his successor, Vladimir Zelensky, of using state power to suppress political rivals, including himself. The warning about Zelensky's 'authoritarianism' was made in an interview published on Tuesday by The Times. Poroshenko, who lost a presidential election to Zelensky in 2019, alleged that the current leader has targeted him as a potential electoral challenger. Zelensky, a comedian-turned-politician, surged in the polls by campaigning against corruption and criticizing the government's failure to resolve the conflict in Donbass. After taking office, he pursued policies that escalated tensions with Russia, before Moscow launched its military operation in 2022. Now a member of parliament, Poroshenko said he would continue to support Zelensky for the duration of the conflict with Russia, despite being personally sanctioned by Zelensky's administration in February, which included a ban on foreign travel and restrictions on media access. Poroshenko told The Times he believes the measures were designed to neutralize political opposition ahead of any potential election that might take place if martial law were lifted. Although polls show Poroshenko trailing behind, with former top general Valery Zaluzhny the likely winner in a hypothetical run, the former president said the measures take against him are part of a broader pattern. 'Today Poroshenko, tomorrow Zaluzhny, [the] day after tomorrow anybody,' he said. 'This is authoritarianism.' The Times disputed Poroshenko's characterization, describing Ukraine's political landscape as 'diverse and rambunctious.' In a 2019 presidential debate, Zelensky declared he was 'a sentence' for Poroshenko, alluding to possible prosecution for corruption and abuse of power. No trial was conducted, but Poroshenko told the British newspaper that Zelensky hates him personally 'on a biological, chemical level.' Following the interview, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko visited Poroshenko. The official has previously made similar criticisms of Zelensky. Poroshenko remarked that the current leader risks a surge of public dissent unless he listens to opposing voices. The Zelensky administration had shuttered opposition media and launched investigations against several political adversaries even before the 2022 escalation, saying it was suppressing 'pro-Russian' actors. After the conflict escalated, Ukraine's largest opposition bloc in parliament was effectively dismantled, leaving Poroshenko's European Solidarity party as the second-largest faction behind Zelensky's Servant of the People party in the Ukrainian parliament.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Biden's press chief Karine Jean-Pierre reveals White House was 'BROKEN' and declares herself an Independent
Biden bitter-ender White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is penning a tell-all taking on his political rivals while saying she has left the party she served for years. Her new book, titled Independent, has a cover featuring shattered glass, and describes its substance as 'a look inside a broken White House, outside the party lines.' Her publisher Hachette describes an 'urgent, timely analysis' and urges Americans to 'vote their values and maintain individuality within party lines.' Jean-Pierre spent years defending Biden from the White House podium on both substance and questions about his age, health, and mental fitness. It comes as her former boss has been absorbing a round of tough press coverage with the release of Axios reporter Alex Thompson and CNN anchor Jake Tapper's new book, 'Original Sin,' which rakes the Biden White House for covering up signs of his decline. 'In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary to the Biden-Harris administration, shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents,' according to an online release for the book. 'Jean-Pierre didn't come to her decision to be an Independent lightly,' it says – indicating she has leaving the party, after working in the Biden administration. She worked as a political director for Obama. She also worked for liberal outside group MoveOn. The write-up for her forthcoming book indicates she'll take on people within the party who tried to force Biden to end his reelection campaign after his debate disaster. 'She takes us through the three weeks that led to Biden's abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision,' according to the release. It calls it a 'hard-hitting yet hopeful critique.' The tome runs 256 pages, and goes on sale October 21.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Biden's press chief Karine Jeane-Pierre reveals White House was 'BROKEN' and declares herself an Independent
Biden bitter-ender White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is penning a tell-all taking on his political rivals while saying she has left the party she served for years. Her new book, titled Independent, has a cover featuring shattered glass, and describes its substance as 'a look inside a broken White House, outside the party lines.' Her publisher Hachette describes an 'urgent, timely analysis' and urges Americans to 'vote their values and maintain individuality within party lines.' Jean-Pierre spent years defending Biden from the White House podium on both substance and questions about his age, health, and mental fitness. It comes as her former boss has been absorbing a round of tough press coverage with the release of Axios reporter Alex Thompson and CNN anchor Jake Tapper's new book, 'Original Sin,' which rakes the Biden White House for covering up signs of his decline. 'In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary to the Biden-Harris administration, shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents,' according to an online release for the book. 'Jean-Pierre didn't come to her decision to be an Independent lightly,' it says – indicating she has leaving the party, after working in the Biden administration. She worked as a political director for Obama. She also worked for liberal outside group MoveOn. The write-up for her forthcoming book indicates she'll take on people within the party who tried to force Biden to end his reelection campaign after his debate disaster. 'She takes us through the three weeks that led to Biden's abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision,' according to the release. It calls it a 'hard-hitting yet hopeful critique.' The tome runs 256 pages, and goes on sale October 21.
