Latest news with #pro-European
Int'l Business Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Ukraine Will Fix Anti-graft Law, Minister Tells AFP Ahead Of Crucial Vote
Ukraine will fix a controversial anti-graft law that sparked protests last week, its foreign minister told AFP ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote Thusday, but critics said some MPs might be reluctant to back the changes. President Volodymyr Zelensky changed the law that curbed the powers of anti-graft bodies after the original legislation sparked the largest public unrest since Russia's invasion more than three years ago. The law had put the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. Critics said the move could facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes. On Thursday, the parliament is to vote on a new version, approved by the agencies, which restores their independence, but also provides for regular lie detector tests for anti-graft officials. "We anticipate the vote tomorrow. The relevant parliamentary committee has already given its approval. We are getting this fixed," Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga told AFP in an interview. Several hundred people staged a new protest in the rain in central Kyiv on the eve of the vote to put pressure on lawmakers. "Hands off NABU and SAPO," they chanted. "I hope that things will improve somehow, but it will be almost impossible to completely restore our reputation," Olena, a 51-year-old IT worker, told AFP at the protest. Another protester, Pavlo, said however that he did not think the action "did any harm" as people were focused on the war with Russia. But he added that the law has damaged public trust in the government, which already "wasn't very high". The minister said last week's protests proved Ukraine is a democracy. "The Ukrainian authorities heard their (civil society) voices, as well as those of our partners," he declared. Sybiga reiterated Kyiv's commitment to fight corruption and its desire to join the European Union and NATO military alliance, "there is no alternative to this path," the minister said. "This is a principled position of President Zelenskyy and this is in our national interest." European allies had been worried that the law would undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the EU, but supported the new amendments. It remains to be seen whether members of the parliament, which is mostly loyal to Zelensky, will approve the new version. Commentators and Ukrainian media feared some lawmakers under potential investigation by the agencies may be reluctant to support the new bill. Thirty-one MPs have been mentioned in NABU's investigations, SAPO said in a statement on Wednesday. NABU and SAPO were created a decade ago when Ukraine undertook anti-corruption reforms after the pro-European Maidan protests, dubbed as the Revolution of Dignity. They uncovered major corruption cases, including within the presidency, parliament and judiciary. However only three out of the 10 most significant cases resulted in prison sentences, according NABU. "Hope dies last," said Olena, who took part in Wednesday's protest.
Euractiv
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Moldovan president warns of Russian interference in September vote
CHISINAU – Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu on Wednesday accused Russia of seeking to meddle in the September national elections, warning that Moscow was planning "unprecedented" action to "get its people into the next parliament". Sandu, a vocal critic of Russia, in particular since the start of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly accused Moscow of political interference in the former Soviet republic that lies between war-torn Ukraine and EU and NATO member Romania. Fears of Russian meddling have been looming large as Sandu has been steering Moldova toward official EU accession talks that started in June 2024. "The Russian Federation wants to control Moldova from the fall and is preparing an unprecedented interference in the September elections," including by vote buying and illicit financing through cryptocurrencies for which "100 million euros" have been earmarked, Sandu told a press conference on Wednesday. The head of state, who won last year's re-election, detailed the plans Moscow has allegedly put in place ahead of the vote. Sandu said the Kremlin was planning to launch "information manipulation campaigns" and cyber attacks, and organise paid "violent" protests, while also looking to exploit traditional religious structures. She accused the two main opposition forces of taking advantage of Moscow's plans to deprive her centre-right Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) of its parliamentary majority. Sandu was referring to people affiliated to fugitive pro-Russian politician Ilan Shor, who she said was leading a "criminal group" that was aiming to destabilise the country by protests and "creating networks of vote buying". Furthermore, she called out the Russian-financed "sovereignist" force that promotes Euroscepticism and the subordination of the country's interests to those of Moscow. Lastly, "the moderate pro-European electorate" was being targeted in a bid to sow doubt among it, including by sabotaging the electoral process overseas. "All these projects are coordinated from the same command point" in Moscow, she said. According to a recent poll, Sandu's PAS is currently leading with 39% support, followed by the pro-Russian opposition Socialist party at 14.9%. However, about 30% of citizens say they are still undecided. Earlier this year, police said that more than 140,000 people in the country of 2.5 million are being investigated over a cash-for-votes scheme during the last presidential election in 2021. In the past, authorities have accused pro-Russian media and activists of disseminating disinformation in Moldova, with scores of outlets and Telegram channels being shut down. Sandu criticised Telegram for not responding to reports regarding voter corruption on its platform.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Zelenskyy under pressure as anti-corruption rollback sparks backlash
AT a rare protest in central Kyiv on Wednesday, demonstrators rallied against a law that curbs the power of anti-corruption agencies, warning the fight for Ukraine's democracy was taking place both on the battlefield and at home. The legislation, removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparked the first major protests in Ukraine since it began fighting off the Russian invasion over three years ago. "Our struggle takes place on two fronts. Our main enemy is external, but we have an internal battle, too," said protester Viacheslav Bykov. "We don't want Ukraine to be part of Russia, we don't want a corrupt or authoritarian Ukraine. We want a free Ukraine." Several thousand demonstrators — mostly young — called for a veto to the law passed by Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday. The law places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the authority of the prosecutor-general, who is appointed by the president. Critics say the legislation would facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes and threatens the independence of key institutions in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the backlash on Wednesday evening, saying he would submit a new bill ensuring "all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place". Kyiv's partners had reacted with alarm, including European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, who the European Union (EU) said demanded explanations from Zelenskyy over the change. Civil society groups warn the bill is part of a broader pattern of pressure on anti-corruption activists and bodies. Some European allies worry the moves will undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the EU — a fear shared by many of the protesters. "We've worked for years to move closer to Europe... only to be thrown back 10 years in a single day," said protester Anya Kutsevol. Ukraine's two anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, were born a decade ago in the wake of the 2014 Maidan revolution. Those pro-European protests, centred on Kyiv's main square, also called Maidan, ousted a Kremlin-backed leader who scrapped a key partnership agreement with the EU. The Kremlin, which refused to accept Ukraine's democratic turn towards Europe, then launched a first assault over Ukraine that led Moscow-backed separatists to occupy Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region. "Ukraine is Europe," said Kutsevol. "We won't be returned to Russia. We will keep fighting for Europe." Some fear that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity within the country, which is struggling to hold the front. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov seized on the opportunity to say there was "a lot of corruption" in Ukraine. "If I were Russia, I would do the same," said another protester, Yevgen Popovychenko, convinced that Moscow would try to exploit the protests. He was holding a banner that read: "Don't take me back" to the years of Maidan, where he took to the streets as a 21-year-old. As he stood in the crowd, he said he was having flashbacks from Maidan, a feeling shared by his friends. But many other protesters were only children during the famed 2014 demonstrations — including 25-year-old Kutsevol. "When tyres were still burning, I was 14. What good was I?" she said. Wednesday's was her first political protest, and she teared up looking at people gathered around her for the second day in a row, despite martial law banning large gatherings. She vowed to keep defending Ukraine's democracy. "We're adults now. Now it's our turn."
Int'l Business Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
'A Free Ukraine': Kyiv Protests Law Threatening Anti-corruption Bodies
At a rare protest in central Kyiv demonstrators rallied Wednesday against a law that curbs the power of anti-corruption agencies, warning the fight for Ukraine's democracy was taking place both on the battlefield and at home. The legislation, removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparked the first major protests in Ukraine since it began fighting off the Russian invasion over three years ago. "Our struggle takes place on two fronts. Our main enemy is external, but we have an internal battle too," said protester Viacheslav Bykov. "We don't want Ukraine to be part of Russia, we don't want a corrupt or authoritarian Ukraine. We want a free Ukraine," he added. Several thousand demonstrators -- mostly young -- gathered outside a theatre in Kyiv, calling for a veto to the law passed by Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday. The law places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. Critics say the legislation would facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes and threatens the independence of key institutions in Ukraine. Zelensky responded to the backlash on Wednesday evening, saying he would submit a new bill ensuring "all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place". Kyiv's partners had reacted with alarm, including European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, who the EU said demanded explanations from Zelensky over the change. Civil society groups warn the bill is part of a broader pattern of pressure on anti-corruption activists and bodies. Some European allies worry the moves will undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union -- a fear shared by many protesting on Wednesday. "We've worked for years to move closer to Europe... only to be thrown back 10 years in a single day," said protester Anya Kutsevol. Ukraine's two anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, were born a decade ago in the wake of the 2014 Maidan revolution. Those pro-European protests, centred on Kyiv's main square, also called Maidan, ousted a Kremlin-backed leader who scrapped a key partnership agreement with the EU. The Kremlin, which refused to accept Ukraine's democratic turn toward Europe, then launched a first assault over Ukraine that led Moscow-backed separatists to occupy Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region. "Ukraine is Europe," Kutsevol said, "we won't be returned to Russia. We'll keep fighting for Europe." Some fear that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity within the country, which is struggling to hold the front. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov seized on the opportunity to say there was "a lot of corruption" in Ukraine. "If I were Russia, I would do the same," said another protester, Yevgen Popovychenko, convinced Moscow would try to exploit the protests. He was holding a banner that read: "Don't take me back" to the years of Maidan, where he took to the streets as a 21-year-old. As he stood in the crowd, he said he was having flashbacks from Maidan, a feeling shared by his friends. But many other protestors were only children during the famed 2014 demonstrations -- including 25-year-old Kutsevol. "When tyres were still burning, I was 14. What good was I?" she said. Wednesday's was her first political protest, and she teared up looking at people gathered around her for the second day in a row, despite martial law banning large gatherings. She vowed to keep defending Ukraine's democracy. "We're adults now. Now it's our turn." Critics say the law threatens the independence of key institutions AFP A protester says 'Ukraine is not Mordor', likening Moscow to the fictional dark realm AFP The pro-European Maidan protests took place a decade ago AFP
The Star
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
French minister Retailleau breaks with Macron as 2027 succession race heats up
PARIS (Reuters) -French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau delivered a stern rebuke of President Emmanuel Macron's political legacy in an interview published on Wednesday, breaking with his boss to stake his claim as his potential successor in the 2027 election. Less than two years before the end of Macron's second term, after which he can't immediately seek reelection, an increasingly crowded group of potential candidates to succeed the French leader is starting to emerge. Retailleau, a veteran conservative, has yet to declare his candidacy for 2027 but his comments to the right-wing Valeurs Actuelles magazine underline how likely presidential contenders are now trying to distance themselves from Macron's bruised political brand and carve out their own electoral niche. They also point to the fissures in France's weak minority government, a coalition of centrists and conservatives, that will likely widen as the presidential succession heats up. "Macronism will end with Emmanuel Macron, quite simply because it's neither a political movement nor an ideology: it essentially relies on one man," he was quoted as saying. A spokesperson for Macron declined to comment. Retailleau beat rivals in a leadership contest for the right-wing Republicans party in May, teeing him up for a potential presidential run. As the face of the government's push on rising drug crime and immigration, he has become one of France's most popular politicians. Retailleau has a 36% approval rating, according to a July Ipsos poll, compared with 24% for Macron. Retailleau's comments sparked a barrage of criticism from lawmakers in Macron's party. "Macronism is an ideology and a political party," Macron's former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, who hails from the left and is now education minister, posted on X. "Acting together requires mutual respect." Macron swept to power in 2017 at the head of his own movement which he said was "neither to the left nor the right". He implemented pro-European, pro-business policies once in power, but was seen as too pro-wealth for the left and not tough enough on crime and immigration for the right. As his popularity has fallen, his domination of the centre has pushed more French people to the political fringes. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party is now the largest single parliamentary party, and she and her right-hand man Jordan Bardella lead many polls for the 2027 election. Retailleau said there would be a return to a clear left-right divide once Macron's term ends. A source close to Retailleau, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the minister's comments were to be expected in a coalition government and that he had no plans to resign. He was set to meet Macron on Thursday for a previously scheduled chat. (Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; writing by Michel RoseEditing by Gabriel Stargardter and Sharon Singleton)
