Ukraine president tries to salvage corruption law as tough election looms

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses lawmakers during a session of parliament in Kiev, Ukraine February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed fresh legislation on Thursday aimed at fighting corruption, after the constitutional court threw out a previous anti-graft law, raising concerns that the country was backtracking on the issue.

Poroshenko's record on tackling corruption is a central topic of debate ahead of his bid for a second term in a presidential election on March 31. He trails in the polls and critics accuse him of not doing enough to root out entrenched corruption.