Canadian House Speaker resigns after criticism over applauding Nazi war hero
Less than a week ago, Canadian House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota applauded a 98-year-old former soldier and called him a "war hero". The Ukrainian-Canadian veteran had served in a Nazi unit during World War 2.
Canadian House Speaker Anthony Rota resigned after facing backlash over his applause for a Ukrainian solider with Nazi ties. Rota, the speaker of Canada's House of Commons lower chamber, announced his resignation to the legislators on Tuesday.
The development came less than a week after he publicly praised a 98-year-old former soldier who served in a Nazi unit during World War 2. Yaroslav Hunka, the veteran Nazi war veteran, was invited to the Canadian Parliament, and was introduced as a "war hero" by Anthony Rota.
Canadian House Speaker Anthony Rota resigned after facing backlash over his applause for a Ukrainian solider with Nazi ties. Rota, the speaker of Canada's House of Commons lower chamber, announced his resignation to the legislators on Tuesday.
The development came less than a week after he publicly praised a 98-year-old former soldier who served in a Nazi unit during World War 2. Yaroslav Hunka, the veteran Nazi war veteran, was invited to the Canadian Parliament, and was introduced as a "war hero" by Anthony Rota.
Canadian House Speaker Anthony Rota resigned after facing backlash over his applause for a Ukrainian solider with Nazi ties. Rota, the speaker of Canada's House of Commons lower chamber, announced his resignation to the legislators on Tuesday.
The development came less than a week after he publicly praised a 98-year-old former soldier who served in a Nazi unit during World War 2. Yaroslav Hunka, the veteran Nazi war veteran, was invited to the Canadian Parliament, and was introduced as a "war hero" by Anthony Rota.
"This House is above any of us. Therefore, I must step down as your Speaker," Canada's CBC news quoted Anthony Rota as saying.
As he announced his decision to step down from the House of Commons Speaker's post, Rota said his recognition of Hunka "caused pain to individuals and communities," including Jewish people, Poles and "other survivors of Nazi atrocities".
Hunka, who received two standing ovations from lawmakers, had served in one of Adolf Hitler's Waffen SS units during World War Two.
"That public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including the Jewish community in Canada and around the world ... I accept full responsibility for my actions," news agency Reuters quoted Rota as saying.
Rota's resignation will take place on Wednesday, and a deputy speaker will be in charge till then.
Earlier, Rota extended apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world, as he regretted recognizing an individual in the gallery. Hunka, a Ukrainian-Canadian former soldier, was invited to the Canadian Parliament during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Canada this week.
Notably, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also met with and honored Hunka, a veteran of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi division.
Although opposition parties blamed what they called failings by Trudeau's Liberal government for the affair, Rota said he took sole responsibility for what had happened.
0 Comments