President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s efforts to reverse the controversial Law 21414 that guts the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies may be undermined by a significant rebellion within his own parliamentary bloc, the Financial Times reported on July 26.

According to three people close to the president, as many as 70 members of parliament from the ruling Servant of the People party have expressed opposition to a new draft law that would restore autonomy to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The MPs reportedly fear the agencies could use their renewed powers to pursue politically motivated prosecutions.

“People are scared to be unjustly prosecuted as a revenge,” said one of the top managers of Zelenskiy’s parliamentary faction.

The bill in question is intended to roll back legislation passed on July 22 that placed NABU and SAPO under the effective control of the Prosecutor General, who is under the direct control of the president. The law instantly sparked mass demonstration, the first since the war with Russia started in 2022. The law also earned a sharp rebuke from the G7 and the European Commission, which threatened to cut Ukraine’s fund and that the law also threatens Ukraine’s EU accession bid.

Despite widespread backlash, Zelenskiy signed the original bill into law the same evening it was passed. Days later, he submitted a humiliating backtrack bill that is supposed to restore the anti-corruption bodies’ independent.

Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk stated on July 26 that the new draft law would be considered during a session on July 31. However, given mounting resistance from within the president’s own party, the vote may be delayed or scheduled at a time when insufficient MPs are present to secure its passage. The Rada is currently formally on its summer recess, but deputies were specifically called back from holiday to vote on Law 21414 at a single special session.