Table of Contents
House of Commons Speaker’s Resignation
Anthony Rota, the Speaker of the House of Commons in Canada, resigned from his job after receiving criticism for recognizing a person who participated in the Schutzstaffel, the Nazis‘ paramilitary organization, during World War II.
Rota stated in a statement released by the lower house of the Canadian legislature, “It is with a heavy heart that I stand before the House of Commons today to inform members of my resignation as Speaker.”
“Being chosen by you, my colleagues, to serve as Speaker of the House of Commons in the 43rd and 44th Parliaments has been the greatest honor for me as a Member of Parliament,” he said.
In order to attend the speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rota had invited Yaroslav Hunka to the House of Commons. He referred to the 98-year-old as a “Ukrainian hero” and “a Canadian hero,” earning cheers from the audience.
But during the weekend, it became known that Hunka had participated in the First Ukrainian Division, a voluntary organization that worked for the Nazis.
Przemysaw Czarnek, Poland’s minister of education, has hinted that Hunka might be extradited to another country to face possible criminal charges. No extradition treaty exists between Poland and Canada.
Rota expressed sorrow in his announcement, adding, “I deeply apologize for my error in recognizing an individual during President Zelensky’s joint address to Parliament.”
“Along with the Jewish community in Canada and around the world, that public acknowledgment has hurt the people and communities who were victims of Nazi atrocities in Poland and other nations. I apologize profusely. I fully acknowledge my responsibility for my acts.
In order to make space for the election of a new one. Rota announced that his resignation will become effective at the end of the day on Wednesday.