Jakarta –
Speaker of the Canadian Parliament Antoine Rota resigned from his position on Tuesday. He expressed this days after welcoming a Ukrainian veteran who reportedly fought for the Nazis during World War II.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce to the deputies my resignation from my position as President of the People’s Council,” Anthony Rota declared to the deputies from the Parliament hall, reported by AFP, Wednesday (27/9/ 2023).
Rota also expressed regret for what he did. He is ready to take responsibility.
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“I deeply regret my mistake,” he said.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions,” Rota continued, saying his resignation would take effect at the end of the day Wednesday.
Rota faced growing pressure to resign after Friday’s incident, during a visit to parliament by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At that time, Rota paid tribute to Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant who also visited Parliament and was from Rota’s constituency.
He hailed Hunka as “a Ukrainian-Canadian war veteran of World War II who fought for Ukraine’s independence against Russia” and “a Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero”, drawing a standing ovation standing from the members.
But Hunka actually served in the 14th Waffen SS Grenadier Division, “a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well documented,” according to the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
On Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly joined a group calling for the president’s resignation.
“What happened on Friday is completely unacceptable,” he told reporters in Parliament.
“This is embarrassing for the House of Representatives and Canadians, and I think the Speaker of the House should listen to the members of the House and step aside,” he continued.
Several political parties in Canada have also urged Rota to resign.
Rota, a Liberal MP, apologized on Sunday, saying he “subsequently became aware of more information” that made him regret his remarks about Hunka.
“This initiative is entirely mine… I particularly want to offer my most sincere apologies to the Jewish community in Canada and around the world,” he said.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Rota’s comments embarrassing.
The main opposition Conservative Party criticized the Trudeau government for failing to properly vet Hunka, despite claims it was not informed in advance of Hunka’s invitation to the event .
See also the video “Polish Prime Minister Compares Russia’s War Methods to Those of the Nazis”:
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