You're reading: Samopomich elects Syroid as new leader, plans return to parliament

Former lawmaker and deputy speaker of parliament Oksana Syroid has been elected head of the Samopomich party, replacing its founder and long-time leader, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. Previously, 

Syroid, 43, said the goal of the party is to win the upcoming 2020 local elections, which would pave the way for Samopomich’s return to national politics. 

“Our main task now is to find words and ways of delivering them to make people hear and understand us,” she said at the party convention on Oct. 19. “Our goal is clear — to return to the decision-making center of Ukrainian politics. We know how (to do it). We need to believe and work.” 

The party’s major breakthrough came during the 2014 parliamentary elections, when it placed third and subsequently won public praise for the integrity and honesty of its lawmakers.

However, in the runup to the 2019 parliamentary elections, the party faced a crisis. Several key members and lawmakers left the faction and some joined other political forces. Sadovyi ran for president in spring but, a month before the vote, withdrew from the race in favour of another candidate. In the July 21 parliamentary election, Samopomich received under 1% of votes and did not make it into the new legislature. 

“I gave seven years to the leadership of Samopomich. Those were the best and the hardest years of my life,” said Sadovyi addressing party members at the convention. “I am staying in the party and will be an active member. I believe I will do good helping you.”