Klitschko party to compete for parliament, invites Saakashvili to lead it
5 June 2019
The Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms will
compete in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for July 21, the party’s
founder Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a video announcement posted on his
Facebook page on June 4. He invited former Georgian President and Odesa
Regional Administration Head Mikheil Saakashvili to serve as the party’s head
during the election campaign. He also vowed to support Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky “if his actions coincide with the party’s aspirations.”
Klitschko said he won’t compete for parliament himself in order to remain as
Kyiv mayor.
Zenon Zawada: It’s widely
understood that Saakashvili doesn’t meet the legal requirements to become a
member of parliament. Yet acting as a figurehead or spokesman could boost the
party’s support, possibly gaining a 3% result in the elections (though 5%
remains the threshold). Even if Saakashvili doesn’t accept the invitation, the
announcement confirms to the public that Klitschko has severed any political
partnership with Petro Poroshenko, with whom he was allied with for the 2014
presidential elections and much of his presidency. Both Saakashvili and
Zelensky are among Poroshenko’s top political opponents.
