September, Thursday 19, 2024

Speaker Anthony Rota of Canada steps down amid controversy over Nazi presence in parliament


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The Speaker of Canada's House of Commons, Anthony Rota, has resigned after mistakenly praising a Ukrainian man with ties to a Nazi unit and inviting him to parliament. Initially resisting calls to step down, Rota ultimately quit after meeting with party leaders in Ottawa. He expressed his regret and apologized for the incident during his announcement in parliament. The incident, which occurred last Friday, received widespread condemnation. Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old man, received a standing ovation after Rota referred to him as a "hero" during a visit by Ukraine's president. Rota claimed he was unaware of Hunka's Nazi affiliation and admitted to making a mistake by inviting him. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to the incident as deeply embarrassing for the parliament and all Canadians. Cabinet members also joined the calls for Rota's resignation. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly deemed the mistake completely unacceptable and urged the Speaker to step down. This is a developing story, and more details will be released shortly.