Ukrainian Prime Minister Suddenly Resigns

(Baonghean.vn) - Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has just submitted his resignation, paving the way for the formation of a new government.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine has just announced that he will resign on April 12. Photo: AP.

After months of political turmoil, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced in a televised speech on April 10 that he would resign on April 12.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk survived a confidence vote in his pro-EU government on February 16, but two parties abandoned the ruling coalition, losing its majority in parliament.

The vote came after President Petro Poroshenko asked Mr Yatsenyuk to resign. The prime minister's approval rating had fallen to single digits.

Mr Yatsenyuk affirmed that Mr Poroshenko's political bloc will choose Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Groysman to become the next Prime Minister.

Mr Yatsenyuk became prime minister in 2014, shortly after protests in Ukraine successfully ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych.

However, hopes raised by pro-EU protests have been dashed by the outbreak of war with pro-Russian separatists in the east, which has had economic consequences.

Mr. Yatsenyuk was lifted off the podium by opposition members in the middle of the parliament. Photo: Reuters.

The Ukrainian government has failed to combat local corruption, cronyism and powerful oligarchs, causing both the country's citizens and Western supporters to lose faith in the government.

Europe and the United States have called for comprehensive reforms for Ukraine in exchange for receiving much-needed international financial aid.

If parliament fails to form a new coalition government and agree on a new prime minister, the country could be forced to hold early elections, something both Poroshenko and pro-Western Ukrainians have sought to avoid out of concern that it could stall reforms and lead to longer-term instability.

Thu Giang

(According to AFP, dpa, Reuters)