Canadian speaker of the House of Commons came under fire after inviting and publicly praising a Ukrainian Nazi World War II veteran.
Following a major scandal that transpired after the parliament of Canada gave „a standing ovation” to a Ukrainian veteran who fought in the Nazi Waffen SS during WW2, the speaker of Canada’s House of Commons lower chamber and a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party, Anthony Rota, who was responsible for inviting the 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, said he will hand in his resignation, reports the DW.
Rota apologised and told members of the house that he had made a mistake by inviting Hunka. The fact that Hunka had served in one of Hitler’s Waffen SS units during World War II emerged after he received two standing ovations. During the session, Rota had publicly lauded Hunka, calling him a war hero.
„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,” said Rota since the incident. He said his resignation would take effect on September 27 and that a deputy speaker would fill in for him until a replacement was found. Rota also expressed „profound regret for my error” and said the „initiative was entirely my own.
Photo credit: Image: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/picture alliance
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