Batkivshchyna

The All-Ukrainian Union " Fatherland" (Ukrainian Batkivshchyna ) is a political party in Ukraine.

Orientation and organization

"Fatherland" has no clearly defined ideology and represents mostly populist positions. The party is described partly as a left or center-left populist, partly as a national-democratic, liberal, conservative or center-right party. It thus belongs to the category of catch-all parties ( " Allerweltsparteien " ) within the meaning of political scientist Otto Kirchheimer, who strive to unite voters of different political orientation. Socialism and " market fundamentalism " she rejects alike. Instead, she argues for a third way, which they referred to as " solidarism ".

The party " Fatherland" has observer status in the European People's Party and is a full member of the International Democratic Union. They lobby for EU membership of Ukraine.

The party is strongly focused on the person of its founder and chairman Yulia Tymoshenko. It is not a party with members based organization, but a " professional choice party." You belong mostly to career politicians, their membership is unknown. With its supporters to communicate through the media of public relations and the Internet.

History

"Fatherland" was established on 9 July 1999 by former members of the populist center-left party Hromada, including Yulia Tymoshenko and Olexandr Turchynov. This had Hromada leave in protest against the leadership style of the chairman Pavlo Lazarenko and founded in March 1999, a parliamentary group called " Fatherland" in the Verkhovna Rada. In December of that year, the then Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko was elected party chairman. She has this post until today.

After the appointment of Tymoshenko's deputy prime minister under then prime minister Viktor Yushchenko, the party was initially on the part of government and was considered loyal to President Leonid Kuchma. Even under the influence of so-called cassette scandal then joined the party in opposition to the authoritarian ruling president and was part of the Alliance Ukraine without Kuchma. In advance of the 2002 parliamentary elections, the electoral alliance block Yulia Tymoshenko ( BJuT ) was established, which received 7.24 % of votes.

In the 2004 presidential election that led to the " Orange Revolution " supported "Fatherland" Viktor Yushchenko 's candidacy. After the victory of Yushchenko Yulia Tymoshenko was first Prime Minister. Olexandr Turchynov was head of the Ukrainian domestic intelligence SBU. Other departments did not receive the All-Ukrainian Association. Even in the subsequent parliamentary elections the party participated each under the roof of the block of Yulia Tymoshenko, who could share his seat in the Rada enlarge each.

In 2008, the party was accepted as an observer member of the European People's Party. This came as a surprise to some observers as "Fatherland" was them until then as a center-left party and had shown interest in joining the Socialist International.

In the parliamentary elections of 28 October 2012 " Fatherland" joined forces with the former BJuT Member Parties Party Reforms and Order, and People's Movement of Ukraine ( Ruch) with a common list. The front of the changes (front Smin ) Arseniy Yatsenyuk Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people and the Mustafa Abdülcemil Kirimoglu joined the United Opposition, the candidate on the list of the party " Fatherland". Top candidate of the Alliance was Yatsenyuk because the imprisoned Tymoshenko not allowed to compete. The list reached 25.54 % of the votes and gained 103 of the 450 seats in the Verkhovna Rada, so that it forms the second largest parliamentary faction. In June 2013 merged the front of the changes and the small Liberal Party " Reforms and Order " then complete with "Fatherland".

Since the protests began in Ukraine in 2013 formed "Fatherland" under the leadership of Yatsenyuk together with the radical nationalist Svoboda party Oleh Tjahnybok and the party UDAR of professional boxer Vitali Klitschko oppositional tripartite alliance that aims to achieve the resignation of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. After fleeing Yanukovych the Verkhovna Rada Turchynov chose on February 22, President of the Parliament and a day later as interim head of state. On February 27, 2014 Yatsenyuk was elected Prime Minister. He formed a transitional government consisting of politicians from "Fatherland", Swoboda - party and non-party ministers.