Poroshenko on Svyrydenko’s resignation: This is a “Minditchgate” government, a government of populists who robbed the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

European Solidarity demanded the dismissal of this government eight months ago, because it is a government of populists who do not work to strengthen defense capability and support the Armed Forces.

Petro Poroshenko said this while speaking in parliament.

“On November 23, more than a hundred members of parliament of this Verkhovna Rada, representatives of every faction of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, signed their names eight months ago, calling for the resignation of the government, which the Verkhovna Rada has been so applauding. Friends, this is madness. If you’re applauding them, why are you dismissing them? Can you explain to me, if they’re so good, why didn’t you give them a year’s work?” he remarked.

“I’ll tell you why. Because I disagree with the words just spoken in this hall, when they thank this government for this ‘wonderful year.’ You and I live in different countries. You and the majority of Ukrainians. You and this government,” Poroshenko noted.

“This government is the ‘Minditchgate’ government, a government of deputy prime ministers who should be under suspicion, should be in the dock, and who come to this courtroom to receive applause. A government that would have been in power if the European integration reform hadn’t been initiated and implemented. A government that failed to open four of the six clusters,” the fifth President of Ukraine emphasized.

“A government that clearly declares the absence of the rule of law in the country. A government that initiates illegal, unconstitutional, extrajudicial sanctions against Ukrainian citizens. And the government ministers and the prime minister themselves are lying and signing these documents,” he emphasized.

“A government that will go down in history as a government of cashbacks, a government of bucks, a government of other words that Ukrainians shouldn’t use. They are a government of populists who robbed the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And in this case, I just want to ask: why?” Poroshenko emphasized.

“You, dear colleagues, you officials, and you, the Office of the President, waited eight months to support our demand for the resignation of this government before submitting your resignations. Was it not clear to you from the start about Mindichgate? Was it not clear after the Verkhovna Rada was raped and forced to vote for an attack on the independent anti-corruption infrastructure? Was it not clear after the decisions that brought us into a harsh confrontation with our partners,” the fifth President of Ukraine remarked.