Zelensky Responds to Trust Issues Following Protests Against the Law

• Zelensky amended the law that threatened anti-corruption institutions.
• The protests indicated a decrease in trust of Ukrainians in the president.
• Parliament restored the independence of anti-corruption agencies.

Kyiv, Ukraine — President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky recently changed his position regarding a law that restricted the independence of anti-corruption institutions in the country, following mass protests that threatened the stability of his government for the first time since the Russian invasion.

The reversal by Zelensky was a consequence of many years of public discontent that had accumulated around his administration, some members of which were accused of corruption. While Ukrainians primarily trusted the president during wartime, the protests indicated that trust has its limits.

According to Gallup polling, nearly two-thirds of Ukrainians approve of Zelensky's actions in office, which is down from 84% in 2022. Another poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed a similar trend.

The reaction to the swift passage of the law and its reversal indicates a decrease in trust in Zelensky among lawmakers. “Now deputies will be more cautious,” noted deputy Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Zelensky's party. “Just as earlier we trusted the president, now we have our doubts.”

Zelensky pointed out that the initial law aimed to mitigate Russian influence in anti-corruption agencies but did not provide evidence to support this assertion. Following the protests, parliament adopted a new law that restores the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP).

For Western allies of Ukraine, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, the importance of independent anti-corruption institutions is critically important for supporting Ukraine, especially in the context of European integration.

Tags: Ukraine/Politics