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What did Zelensky's inauguration set in motion?
Summary
A look back at the swearing-in of Ukraine's sixth president and his immediate move against parliament.
What happened when Volodymyr Zelensky took office? On 20 May 2019, the former comedian and reality television actor was sworn in by the Verkhovna Rada as the 6th President of Ukraine.
He did not wait long to act. As reported at the time, Zelensky announced the dissolution of parliament and called a snap parliamentary election, turning a ceremonial day into the start of a new political contest.
The prime minister's response
The reaction from the government came the same day. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced that he would resign on Wednesday, in response to the new president's disbanding of parliament.
What followed
The background shows how the decision played out. Parliamentary elections had originally been scheduled for the end of October, and the dissolution brought them forward. They were held later, on 21 July 2019. Zelensky's Servant of the People party won an outright majority, taking 254 seats.
One detail in the later account differs from the reports of the day: it dates the dissolution to 21 May 2019. Reports from 20 May describe the announcement as made at the inauguration itself.
Also reported on the eve of the inauguration, 19 May 2019, was a sporting milestone: Shakhtar Donetsk secured the 2018–2019 Ukrainian football championship ahead of schedule, winning the title for the 12th time.
