In February, a group of post-EuroMaidan Revolution members of parliament launched a new public action platform “Act Together.” We have immediately declared a rather ambitious aim to unite as many new perspective politicians around common goals and to win the 2019 parliamentary and 2020 local elections together.
The appearance of more new faces in politics will determine the struggle between old and new and prevent any revanchist action from the mastodons of Ukrainian politics. Civil society activists have the chance to enter the political scene and help set the agenda for a modern Ukraine at least for the next five years.
Our declaration has caused a stir among some political and social groups. And this is understandable. Unfortunately, while Ukraine’s political history is full of unification efforts, it lacks success cases.
I speak from personal experience when I say that it doesn’t take long for overestimation to turn into disappointment. When we were elected as members of Parliament five years ago, we knew we were coming in for a challenge but didn’t imagine how big. It was unfathomable that even after the Heavenly Hundred, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and candid Russian aggression so many people in the leadership of Ukraine would remain faithful to old Soviet type rules that actually led to the drama the country lives in since the winter of 2013-2014.
Being inside the system allowed our small group to start cleansing and curing the system. We did achieve some results, but we are far from a point of no return, where we can confidently say that Ukrainian politics are governed by modern principles of developed democratic societies.
The fight on corruption has begun, but it never became systemic or institutionalized. MP Mustafa Nayyem correctly points out that “many politicians wanted to remain in power at all cost and they have used Maidan, as a tool for clinging to that power.”
The paradox is that the political old-timers feel threats and unite, putting party differences aside, much quicker than we do. The old party appears to be in opposition to each other, but they know how to negotiate and reach an agreement. This is exactly what happens as soon as the system starts to show even minute signs of weakness.
The Presidential election also is unlikely to lay the ground for any systemic reloading. The quick rise of popularity of the “outsider” candidate is only additional proof that Ukrainians are tired of the old generation of politicians. However, merely providing a new face on the political block is not enough.
The basic principles, vision and national targets need to change. Yet, what we are getting is a mere substitute of one business clan by another and the replacement of one corrupt leader by his slightly younger and refurbished self.
Nevertheless, a change of political generations is inevitable. As the old get older and passes away, the road is paved for the young. It is our responsibility to enforce quality reforms in an efficient and steadfast manner. And it should not matter who sits in the Presidential seat.
The EuroMaidan Revolution that ended President Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency in 2014 was also a revolution of values. A wide-ranging dialogue on social values opened up. People began to genuinely as questions about existential matters: who are we? Who are our friends? What about allies? Why do we need to stick together?
The Act Together team has spent some time searching for answers to these questions. It all started around two years ago. It was then that we have first come to realize that it was crucial for a new generation of leaders to enter Ukrainian politics as a united political power.
The MP Serhii Leshchenko is another founder of the Act Together movement, confirms that “everything started” almost immediately after the Maidan in 2014. “The Act Together initiative is a much-delayed solution, which should have been adopted immediately in the aftermath of “that winter”. Unfortunately, then there was not enough experience, time, resources and courage”, – says in support of Leshchenko MP Svitlana Zalishchuk, yet another initiator of Act Together.
The democratic opposition forces failed to unite and support a single presidential candidate. There is no single “Maidan” party. However, the time we spent in politics pondering over the launch of Act Together also gave us some advantages.
First of all, we became stronger. “Today we are definitely more experienced and with thicker skin. In politics this is definitely an advantage”, – explains Svitlana Zalishchuk.
Second, we understood that no matter what we were prepared to go on fighting. Nayyem articulates this well, when he says: “I don’t want to become a symbol of disappointment in the new generation. The battle will happen anyway. And when it does it must not be a battle against someone, but a battle for us.”
This is a very important point: we are not against something, but for things. We are offering solutions.
Again, I turn to member of parliament Svіtlana Zalishchuk who says: “If act together had to be described in one sentence I would say, it’s the initiative of a new political generation, prepared to work to make living in Ukraine appealing to the 70% of youth, who say they would prepare to immigrate and live abroad”.
MP Oleksiy Mushak declares the true reason of Act Together founding, noting: “We have created Act Together in order to promote the arrival of new people in politics.” Political analyst and co-founder of the movement Mykola Davydiuk is confident that young MPs, volunteers, civil activists, journalists may be the basis for changes, noted “that’s why, need to be prepared new generation of professional public servants and politicians, who will be motivated in state’s success”.
We have no illusion that it will not be possible to change everything immediately. We do not promise quick fixes. The Act Together team is united by two main visions, which will lead to the dismantling of the old system in the future. We believe in the development of the justice infrastructure and the reloading of the economy.
Both of these things essentially mean that rules and procedures shall prevail over individuals.
“All Ukrainians demand the fair justice and equality of responsibility,” says Sergiy Blazhevech, co-founder of the Act Together movement, deputy chief of the Patrol Police (2015-2017), and IT-businessman.
The new anti-corruption bodies shall gain the utmost independence and authority to act. All citizens shall be granted easy access to all government services. Economics shall invest in the creative cluster and sustainable development. Demonopolization and energy independence are also part of the target goals.
Justice and economic growth are strongly interlinked. “I want Ukraine to attract major foreign investments. If the country doesn’t change, this will never happen. Rule of law, protection of property rights and equitable application of legislation are the rules investors are waiting for before entering Ukraine.” – says Maria Barabash, who is an active member of the Act Together initiative and the co-founder of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs.
The platform “Act Together” has gathered different people from various fields of professional activities and expertise with aspirations to introduce the rule of law into everyday life, to ensure the respect of rights, including rights of the veterans. Being a founder and chairwoman of the board of the NGO “Legal Hundred”, co-chairman of the Volunteer Council at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, human rights activist Lesia Vasylenko had also joined the movement.
And last, but not least. Whether we want it or not, those of us who share common values shall have to find a way to unite. The democratic platform in Ukraine is far from being a homogenous entity. It is represented by liberals and social democrats alike, as well as many others. But personal ambitions should not stand in the way of true reforms. There is no time for talks about not having a choice. The opportunities for choice are plenty. And we choose to act, rather than wait
