Ukraine president holds contest for new 'highly moral' lawmaker candidates

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy delivers a speech during an IT conference in Kiev, Ukraine May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's team on Monday invited applications from members of the public to fight a snap election in July for his new Servant of the People party, betting they can wrench power from a discredited political class.

Candidates, who, like the former comedian, need not have previous political experience, can apply through a website to tout their credentials and proposals for new laws, officials said at the launch of the party's campaign.