Ukraine's parliament rebels against president's decree

In this photo taken on Monday, May 20, 2019, Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, centre, leaves the parliament after his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine. Ukrainian TV star Volodymyr Zelenskiy was sworn in as the country's new president on Monday, and promised to stop the war in the country's east against Russian-backed separatists and immediately disbanded parliament, which he has branded as a group only interested in self-enrichment. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a meeting with the lawmakers in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Zelenskiy dropped a bombshell when he said he is dissolving the parliament, dominated by allies of the former Ukrainian president. Zelenskiy sat down with political leaders Tuesday morning to discuss the dissolution. Andriy Bohdan, adviser to Volodymyr Zelenskiy is at right. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

KIEV, Ukraine – Ukrainian party leaders have rebelled against the new president's decision to disband parliament and ignored his call to amend the election law.

Parliamentary leaders met with Volodymyr Zelenskiy Tuesday and had publicly backed his plans to hold early elections under new rules.

But in a surprising turnaround, parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy told lawmakers on Wednesday that Zelenskiy's decree to call snap elections runs against the law. Parliament also declined to even discuss Zelenskiy's amendments aimed at making elections more transparent.

Zelenskiy on Tuesday formally ordered Ukraine's parliament to dissolve, saying that it lacks public trust. He has called for electing the new parliament entirely on party lists, arguing the current election system foments corruption.