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Political party in Ukraine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Holos (Ukrainian: Голос), translated as Voice or Vote, is a liberal and pro-European political party in Ukraine, which was led by Ukrainian musician Svyatoslav Vakarchuk until March 2020.[11] The party won 20 MPs in the 2019 parliamentary election[12][13] and became part of the opposition in the current Ukrainian parliament.[14][15]
Voice Голос | |
---|---|
Leader | Kira Rudik |
Vice leader | Inna Sovsun |
Faction leader | Oleksandra Ustinova |
Founder | Svyatoslav Vakarchuk |
Founded | 16 May 2019 |
Preceded by | Platform of Initiatives[1] |
Headquarters | Kyiv, Ukraine |
Membership (2021) | c. 500 [nb 1][dubious – discuss] |
Ideology | |
Political position | Centre-right[8] |
European affiliation | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe[9] |
International affiliation | Liberal International (observer) |
Colours | Orange |
Slogan | The party of real changes |
Verkhovna Rada | 20 / 450 |
Regions[10] | 335 / 43,122 |
Website | |
goloszmin | |
Holos is the first party with liberal ideology to enter the Ukrainian Parliament and form a faction.
After the local elections in 2020, under leadership of Kira Rudik, the party gained 350 seats in the local councils.
The name of the party has two meanings in the Ukrainian language: voice and vote. The founder of the party, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, said that the name of the party was chosen because this word characterizes Ukrainian voters and their desire for change in the country:[16]
It has two meanings, and both are very important to us. <...> Because Voice is their [the voters'] voice, by which they demonstrate a desire for change, it is their voice of change. On the other hand, it is their vote, that they can cast [in elections]. <...> The voice, in fact, characterizes Ukrainian voters and their desire for change. What else, if not the voice?
The party was presented to the public on 16 May 2019 in Kyiv and announced it would run in the upcoming July 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election.[17] Legally, Holos is an "upgraded" version of the party "Platform of Initiatives" that was founded in 2015 to take part in the 2015 Ukrainian local elections.[1] The creation of the party marks Vakarchuk's second venture into politics – he previously served as an MP for almost a year after being elected in the 2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election.[18]
The party was first featured in the opinion polling carried out from 16 to 21 May 2019, its rating was 4.6%.[19]
The party held its first congress on 8 June 2019, at which part of its party list for the forthcoming elections was announced.[20][21] The top 10 candidates were as follows: 1) Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, 2) Yulia Klimenko, 3) Kira Rudik, 4) Yaroslav Zheleznyak, 5) Oleksandra Ustinova, 6) Oleh Makarov, 7) Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, 8) Serhiy Rakhmanin, 9) Solomiya Bobrovska, and 10) Olha Stefanyshyna. Prior to the congress, the Ukrainian Galician Party and Voice agreed to cooperate, Ukrainian Galician Party members ran as Voice candidates in single-member constituencies and were added to Voice's national electoral list.[22][23] On 12 June, the party withdrew two of its constituency candidates because they had "affiliated with or co-operated with pro-Russian forces", namely Ukrainian Choice and the Opposition Bloc.[24] Party leader Vakarchuk had assured on 19 May 2019 that no incumbent MPs would be on the party's list for the 2019 parliamentary election. However, such deputies, whose political views coincided with the party's ideology, were allowed to be elected by majority constituencies.[25]
In the 2019 parliamentary election, Voice finished with 5.82% of the vote, 17 MPs elected nationwide and three MPs elected in a constituency.[12][13][26] 47.6% of the party's elected deputies are women.[27]
On 11 March 2020, Vakarchuk stepped aside as head of the party. Voice selected Kira Rudik as its new leader.[15] Vakarchuk left parliament in June 2020, stating that his "mission" (bringing new people with new politics into parliament) was complete.[28][29][30]
The party was admitted to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) on 18 November 2020.[9]
In the October 2020 Ukrainian local elections, Voice had some local success, having led its factions to the Lviv Oblast Council, to the city councils of Kyiv, Lviv, Cherkasy, and a number of other city councils, including even in the Donbas.[31] The party's mayoral candidate made it to the second round of the election in Cherkasy, which he lost.[31][32]
The party declares a democratic approach, supporting the separation of money from politics.[33][34] In economic matters, the party is in favor of introducing a tax on withdrawn capital, a land market, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and the fight against illegal customs and tax schemes.[35]
Party leader Vakarchuk stated on 10 June 2019 that the party wants to abolish the current Ukrainian election constituencies (in which 225 seats are elected in constituencies with a first-past-the-post electoral system in one round),[36][37] instead favoring a shift to full open list proportional representation.
According to the analysis of human rights activist Volodymyr Yavorsky, the party's program pays great attention to human rights, while there are no populist statements in it.[38]
According to experts from the Center for Economic Strategy Dmytro Yablonovsky and Daria Mikhailishin, the program focuses on combating corruption through de-oligarchization and by increasing the efficiency of the state through the introduction of modern technologies.[39]
In November 2019, the party's parliamentary faction stated that because Ukraine could not regain control of separatist Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic and Russian annexed Crimea it should "freeze the conflicts", abandon the Minsk Agreements and focus on strengthening its own positions.[40][14]
In October 2020, the party claimed that Russia must pay $500 bln in reparations to cover the damage it has caused to the Donbas since 2014.[41]
On the morning of February 24, 2022, Holos faction was present in the Verkhovna Rada in full (except for one — MP Oleksandra Ustinova, who at that time was on a business trip) and voted for the draft laws[42] important for security and defense of Ukraine. Besides, two faction’s MPs were the first[43] among all the parliamentarians who went to the front from the very first day of the full-scale Russian invasion: they are Roman Kostenko and Roman Lozynskyi. For security reasons, the party does not provide information about other members of Holos party who joined the Defense Forces of Ukraine but did not announce it publicly.
Since February 24, Holos has been actively working in the Verkhovna Rada, in local representative offices, and at the level of inter-parliamentary diplomacy. In addition, representatives of Holos conduct active volunteer activities and attract international aid.
In early May 2023, Holos joined[44] the world federation of liberal-democratic parties Liberal International.[45] According to party leader Kira Rudik, Holos has been working with many countries (in particular, the African Liberal Alliance, Taiwan, and countries of Latin America) in order to ensure long-term support for Ukraine.
In 2022, Kira Rudik was elected Vice President[46] of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).[47] Kira Rudik became the first representative of a non-EU country in this position. The Ukrainian politician set such tasks:
During ALDE membership, Holos initiated resolutions in support of Ukraine. In particular, in June 2024, the ALDE Council in Vilnius[48] adopted a document on unquestioning support for Ukraine, in which European liberals called to:
No. | Image | Name | Start Date | End Date | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Svyatoslav Vakarchuk | 16 May 2019 | 11 March 2020 | 300 days | |
2. | Kira Rudik | 11 March 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 217 days |
No. | Image | Name | Start Date | End Date | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Serhiy Rakhmanin | 29 August 2019[14] | 28 December 2020 | 1 year, 121 days | |
2. | Yaroslav Zheleznyak | 28 December 2020[49] | 17 December 2021 | 354 days | |
3. | Oleksandra Ustinova | 17 December 2021[50] | Incumbent |
After the start of the full-scale invasion, Kira Rudik supported[55] all legislative initiatives related to strengthening the security and defense of Ukraine, services for the army, international support for Ukraine, increased sanctions pressure on the Russian federation, European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, confiscation of property of the aggressor country, digital services and humane treatment of animals.
Since February 24, 2022, Kira Rudik has been a co-author[56] of almost five dozen legislative initiatives. As the First Deputy Head of the Committee on Issues of Digital Transformation,[57] she has been actively working on the digital transformation of the country.
The MP is also a co-chairman[58] of the inter-factional union “Humane Country”,[59] which is engaged in the advocacy and promotion of laws regarding the humane treatment of animals.
The international activity of the politician is focused on the track of confiscation[60] of frozen Russian assets and transferring them to the needs of Ukraine. In just half a year, Kira Rudik and her team visited more than 20 countries of the world and held negotiations with parliamentarians, experts, lawyers, and financiers. They enlisted the support of Bill Browder, an expert on the confiscation of corrupt assets, the author of the Magnitsky Act, and Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Kira Rudik is actively interacting with Taiwan,[61] its politicians, and public activists. As a result of this cooperation, Taiwan provided 1 million dollars for the purchase of generators for hospitals and kindergartens in Kyiv, as well as beds for hospitals and computers for schools. It also provided 50 emergency vehicles (ambulance and fire engines).
At ALDE, Kira Rudik is responsible for women's leadership advocacy and the Alliance of Her[62] program created for women from various European countries who are starting their careers in politics.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, Roman Kostenko (colonel of the Security Service of Ukraine, veteran of the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation, “cyborg”) became one of the first MPs of Ukraine to go to the front. He took an active part in the defense of Southern Ukraine, in particular Mykolaiv and the liberation of Snihurivka. In the fall of 2022, Roman Kostenko was recognized as one of the 25 most influential military men[63] in Ukraine.
He actively works as Secretary of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence.
After February 24, 2022, Roman Kostenko has been a co-author[64] of two dozen legislative initiatives, in particular, such important ones for the defense of Ukraine as improvement of the system of initial combined military training,[65] providing additional leave[66] for military personnel, increasing motivation[67] of military personnel, simplification of procedures for writing off military property,[68] social guarantees[69] for veterans and their families, benefits for importation of cars[70] for the army, provision of lands for the Defense Forces.[71]
Roman Kostenko is involved in international activities focused on the issue of armed aid to Ukraine.
During the full-scale invasion, Andrii Osadchuk has been working continuously[72] in the Verkhovna Rada at all levels of parliamentary work. He took part in no less than 5,000 votes, making decisions at the level of the profile committee and plenary meetings. He became a co-author[73] of about half a hundred legislative initiatives.
Furthermore, he took a direct part in the preparation for the adoption of the series of special laws[74] aimed at strengthening Ukraine's ability to resist armed aggression, expanding the capabilities of the defense forces, and solving specific humanitarian issues. In particular, he worked on draft laws on the participation of civilians in fighting[75] armed aggression, the introduction of combat immunity in the Armed Forces, the introduction of special procedures and terms of pretrial investigation during martial law,[76] adaptation of criminal procedural legislation to the needs of the martial law regime, introduction of state registration of DNA,[77] introduction of special procedures for the exchange of prisoners of war, strengthening institutional independence of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office,[78] improvement of punishment for collaboration[79] etc.
Andrii Osadchuk led a permanent information campaign on TV and radio channels of world media. In total, during the full-scale war, he gave at least 700 online interviews to Western media explaining the situation in Ukraine and promoting key political and humanitarian narratives.
In the spring of 2022, he was one of the first who began to publicly promote the idea of confiscating frozen Russian assets in the West in favor of Ukraine and the introduction of a tribunal for war crimes of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.
Nataliya Delieva is a leader of the regional office of Holos party. Since day one of the full-scale war, Nataliya Delieva became a military volunteer.[80]
Nataliya Delieva is a co-founder of the Women's Association of Ukraine “Diia”,[81] which assists the military and civilian population. The total amount of targeted charitable aid provided by the NGO “Women's Association of Ukraine “Diia” for the military amounted to 5 million UAH and for IDPs — 3 million 500 thousand UAH in 2023.
All branches of “Diia” regularly organize charity events and provide assistance to orphanages and shelters (more than 30 institutions) and carry out charity events for homes for the elderly (geriatric centers) in all branches (more than 25 institutions). In addition, thanks to the activities of the NGO “Women's Association of Ukraine “Diia”, women have opened more than 50 small business enterprises.
Nataliya Delieva also leads “The First Charitable Theater Fund”,[82] which supports theatrical, festival, and street art, promotes the cultural and creative industry, raises the educational and cultural level of children and youth, and social protection of cultural figures. Throughout 2022, “The Immersive World of Taras Shevchenko” was seen in Canada (Toronto, Winnipeg) and the USA (Chicago, Denver, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cleveland, Pittsburgh) precisely at the time when Ukrainians were fighting for peace and democracy in their own country and the world in the bloody war started by Russia.
In the foreign exposure, the exhibition collected UAH 7 million, the money was directed to a special account of the National Bank of Ukraine, the Red Cross of Ukraine, United24, and local initiatives to raise funds for the needs of Ukraine. On February 20, 2023, the exhibitions “The Immersive World of Taras Shevchenko” and "Ukraine — the Land of the Brave” were shown in Paris at the French gallery Grand Palais Immersif.
As the head of the Holos faction in the Kyiv City Council, after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Gregory Malenko took care of decisions about the provision of housing to citizens[83] who needed to improve conditions, creation of a communal facility “Small group home "Happy childhood",[84] prohibitions for pro-Russian politicians[85] to hold positions in Ukraine, appeals regarding prevention[85] of athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the Olympic Games.
Gregory Malenko is the chairman of the board of the charitable foundation “Darnychany”[86] which has been actively helping Kyiv citizens during the full-scale war. Since September 2022, tens of thousands of families of those in need and IDPs from Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kramatorsk, Pervomaisk, Kryvyi Rih, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts of Kyiv, as well as other cities and villages of Ukraine, have received much-needed help. The list of humanitarian aid included not only food kits but also hygiene kits, life jackets, as well as water filters, and hospital and school furniture for the affected regions of Ukraine.
In December 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, Joseph Wu, the head of the “Darnychany” Charitable Foundation, Gregory Malenko, and the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitaliy Klytschko, signed a memorandum on the financing of the purchase of powerful generators (275-825 kVA) for Kyiv's critical infrastructure enterprises by Taiwan. The total amount of aid for the purchase of electric generators amounted to 1 million US dollars. At the beginning of January 2023, the first batch of generators arrived in Kyiv. In total, during the winter of 2023, 14 generator sets with a total capacity of 7,720 kVA were handed over to the city. This project helped preserve heat and light for 25,000 city residents in 607 buildings (residential buildings, hospitals, schools, kindergartens).
In September 2023, thanks to the active participation of Gregory Malenko, the first 48 cars[87] were delivered from Taiwan to Ukraine, including ambulances, cars for evacuating people with reduced mobility, fire engines, jeeps, and minibuses. Transport and humanitarian goods (baby and adult diapers, hygiene products, medical equipment) were distributed among hospitals and local authorities in such cities of Ukraine as Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kramatorsk, Nikopol, Marganets, the village of Kachkarivka (Kherson region) and others.
The deputy of the Kyiv City Council launched the All-Ukrainian project “Ukraine is a big family”.[88] Thanks to the above-mentioned program, more than 100 large families received and continue to receive assistance of 1 thousand dollars from benefactors from the US.
Deputy of the Kyiv City Council, Vadym Vasylchuk enlisted in the Territorial Defense Forces even before the start of the full-scale invasion. From February 24, 2022, he was fighting[89] as part of the 4th company of the 128th battalion of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the city of Kyiv. In July 2024, he received the rank of captain of the Armed Forces.
Vadym Vasylchuk's deputy activity is focused on helping[90] the Defense Forces of Ukraine and increasing security of Kyiv.[91] In particular, on his initiative, the Kyiv Council adopted a decision[92] on checking the legality of allocating land for religious organizations related to the Russian orthodox church, as well as the release[93] of such areas if the construction by religious organizations associated with the aggressor country was illegal.
Vadym Vasylchuk is also an active follower of decommunization and decolonization of capital toponyms. In addition, he advocates a moratorium[94] on Russian cultural products in the capital of Ukraine.
As the head of the permanent Commission for Education and Science, Family, Youth, and Sports, Vadym Vasylchuk is one of the initiators of bans for Kyiv athletes[95] from participating in competitions on the territory of the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus.
Zoya Yarosh is a deputy of the Kyiv City Council, lawyer, and chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the NGO “Association of Lawyers of Ukraine”.[96] With the beginning of the full-scale armed aggression, her work continued in all directions.
Within deputy activity,[97] she became a co-author of several draft decisions of the Kyiv City Council. In July 2023, she was elected a member of the Standing Committee of the Kyiv City Council on Budget, Socio-Economic Development and Investment Activities.
As part of the activities of the NGO “AAU” sent a total of more than 40 official letters to various international and Ukrainian bodies and organizations. One of the first appeals was to all international organizations that unite lawyers and advocates around the world, with a request to support Ukraine militarily and financially, to introduce tough sanctions against Russia. She called on the international business community to stop any economic activity on the territory of Russia.
Also, in the humanitarian sphere, the priority direction of Zoya Yarosh's work was and remains the provision of assistance to the Ukrainian military, healthcare institutions, and the civilian population. In particular, with the support of foreign partners, the provision of charitable assistance to healthcare institutions, the military, and the civilian population was organized.
Year | Leader | Popular vote | % of popular vote | Position | Overall seats won | +/- | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Svyatoslav Vakarchuk | 849,085 | 5.82 | 5th | 20 / 450 |
New | Opposition |
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