Ukrainian blocked on vote-law proposal

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian lawmakers on Wednesday turned down the new president’s proposal to amend the election law in a blow to his hopes to get more of his supporters into parliament.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a 41-year-old comedian who won 73% of the presidential vote last month, dissolved parliament Tuesday, saying that current lawmakers were too focused on self-enrichment and lacked public trust.

Zelenskiy, who became famous for playing the role of a Ukrainian president in a popular TV comedy, was hoping his party would make a successful showing in the parliamentary vote set for July 21.

Zelenskiy proposed changes to the electoral law to have the next parliament elected entirely on party lists, arguing that the current system in which part of the legislature is elected in single-ballot races foments graft.

But lawmakers refused to consider Zelenskiy’s proposal. Former President Petro Poroshenko’s allies favor the current election system, hoping that it will help them keep their seats.

Zelenskiy criticized his foes and urged voters to elect a new generation of politicians.

“The old politicians chose the old system because it gives them a chance to extend their political existence,” he said on Facebook. “They hope to sneak back into the Verkhovna Rada, but I’m sure they are mistaken and you will elect the new politicians capable of changing the country in deeds, not words.”