Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy’s party Samopomich, or Self-Help, is running for parliament along with around 200 other parties the Oct. 26 snap parliamentary elections.
On Sept. 23, Sadoviy — considered a rising political star for his revival of Ukraine’s unofficial western capital — laid out his agenda. Giving more power to local authorities, creating new defense system and implementing a law on lustration are among the priorities of the party, which is not represented in the current parliament.
Sadoviy, who is 50th on the party list, believes that authorities in the cities and villages should have more responsibilities, including protection of public order on local level and financing of the cities, villages. He also would like to hold elections to local councils. Cancellation of non-aligned status of Ukraine is another aim of the party.
Pavlo Kyshkar, who serves in the volunteer Donbas Battalion is No. 7 on the party list. Budget financing for the scientific research of military projects, development of the military industry and education are among other concerns of the party, according to Kyshkar.
Implementation of the law on lustration which was passed last week is the priority for Yegor Sobolev, activist of EuroMaidan revolution and head of the civic committee on lustration who is 13th on the party list. The law should make it possible to fire officials who can’t disclose the sources of their incomes and former KGB employees, according to Sobolev.
Aside from that, the party wants Ukraine to become the member of G20, increase purchasing power parity from $7,000 to $20,000 and life expectancy from 69 to 75 years, according to Viktor Kryvenko, chairman of the board of the charity fund Kolo (Circle) who runs 5th on the party list.
“I’m sure Sampomich will get to the parliament. It’s much needed for our country,” Sadovyi said when party was presenting its program. Meanwhile the polls are showing that Samopomich party has around three percent of support so far, while electoral threshold is five. Around 2.9 percent of Ukrainians who plan to take part in elections would vote for the party if the elections where held in September, according to the poll conducted by Kyiv Institute of Sociology.
Kyiv Post staff writer Anastasia Forina can be reached at [email protected]
