Our Ukraine People's Union emerges as country's leading political force (06/19/05)

Our Ukraine People's Union emerges as country's leading political force

by Zenon Zawada
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - With Ukrainians already anticipating the critical parliamentary elections in March 2006, the Our Ukraine People's Union (OUPU) party has emerged as the nation's leading political force.

Led by President Viktor Yushchenko and Vice Prime Minister for Administrative and Territorial Reforms Roman Bezsmertnyi, the party has retained all the symbols, Western-oriented ideals and policies that the Our Ukraine coalition stood for when leading the Orange Revolution.

At a June 14 press conference, Mr. Bezsmertnyi emphasized that the OUPU is committed to leading a similar coalition in the March elections that includes Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna political party and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn's People's Party of Ukraine.

Such a coalition would secure at least 52 percent of the seats in the Verkhovna Rada, Mr. Bezsmertnyi said, insisting that the coalition was necessary for victory.

"It's what the maidan [Independence Square] was all about, and it's why the people entrusted power to these individuals," Mr. Bezsmertnyi said.

The OUPU registered itself as an official political party after 6,000 delegates gathered at a congress in Kyiv on March 5 to create the party and nominate its leaders.

Despite the effective symbols and branding, Our Ukraine was not a political party, but a coalition of parties that united under Mr. Yushchenko, who was always independent of political parties until now.

Once Mr. Yushchenko became president, it was apparent that a political party under his leadership that retained the widespread recognition and symbolism of Our Ukraine would become an extremely influential political organ, political experts said.

The OUPU's strength is that it appeals to an extremely broad segment of the Ukrainian population that supports President Yushchenko's agenda, said Yurii Yakymenko, director of the political-legal programs at the Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Research.

Mr. Yushchenko's support stretches across social and economic classes, he said. It is the most popular political party at the moment, enjoying the support of up to 30 percent of the electorate, Mr. Yakymenko noted.

The party may even spread its appeal to attract those voters who voted against both presidential candidates in the 2004 elections, and even those who voted for former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, Mr. Yakymenko said.

Mr. Bezsmertnyi also announced that the OUPU will rank Mr. Yushchenko at the top of the party's list of candidates for the Verkhovna Rada, a controversial decision because Mr. Yushchenko would have no intention of serving as a national deputy.

The OUPU wants Mr. Yushchenko's name on the list so that voters will more easily associate the new political party with the popular Ukrainian president, thereby drawing more votes, political observers said.

"Viktor Andriyevych said if it's necessary for the common interest of the nation, he will not decline that option," Mr. Bezsmertnyi said. "The OUPU is the party of the maidan, and I am carrying out today that request which was made on behalf of the Ukrainian people."

Yurii Kostenko, leader of the nationalist Ukrainian People's Party, said Mr. Yushchenko would need to submit a statement to the Central Election Commission and promise to execute his responsibilities as president if he's elected as a national deputy.

Ms. Tymoshenko re-affirmed on June 14 that her party will enter the coalition with the OUPU.

"Different parties supported Viktor Andriyevych during the presidential elections," Ms. Tymoshenko said while attending a summit in Paris. "The results were wonderful and no one doubted how genuinely we all supported him. I personally, as well as my political party, will support the president for the duration of our political life, in tough times and in moments of triumph."

If the coalition manages to hold together, it has the realistic possibility of exceeding Mr. Bezsmertnyi's goal of 50 percent, even achieving as much as a 60 percent majority in the Verkhovna Rada, Mr. Yakymenko said.

He said he doesn't believe the coalition will splinter.

When asked about the party's relationship with other pro-independence parties such as Rukh, Mr. Bezsmertnyi said political arrangements extending beyond coalitions and factions are possible.

The Our Ukraine People's Union will hold its convention on July 9 in Kyiv.

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