Movement of New Forces
{{Infobox political party
| name = Movement of New Forces
| native_name = Рух нових сил
| colorcode = {{party color|Movement of New Forces}}
| logo = Movement of New Forces.png
| logo_size = 150px
| leader1_title = Chairman
| leader1_name = Mikheil Saakashvili
| founder = Mikheil Saakashvili
| foundation = {{start date|df=y|2017|2|23}}
| merger =
| headquarters = Muzeinyi Ln, 4
01001 Kyiv
| membership_year = February 2018
| ideology = {{Nowrap|Liberalism{{cite news |author1= Mikhail Minakov |author2= Isaac Webb |url= https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/minakov-webb-a-new-party-for-ukraine |title= A new party for Ukraine's euro-optimists? |editor= openDemocracy |date= 15 August 2016}}
Pro-Europeanism
Anti-corruption{{cite news |url= http://www.dw.com/en/ex-georgian-leader-mikhail-saakashvili-plans-new-party-in-ukraine-wants-early-elections/a-36366273 |title= Ex-Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili plans new party in Ukraine, wants early elections|editor=Deutsche Welle|date=11 November 2016}}}}
| position = Centre
| international =
| european =
| colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Movement of New Forces}}|border=silver}} Blue
{{color box|#FFFFFF|border=silver}} White
| country = Ukraine
| seats1_title = Verkhovna Rada
| seats1 = {{composition bar|0|450|hex=#05517E}}
| seats2_title = Regions
| seats2 = {{composition bar|1|158399|hex=#05517E}}
| youth_wing =
| wing1_title =
}}
Movement of New Forces ({{langx|uk|Рух нових сил}}, Rukh Novykh Syl) is a Ukrainian political party which was founded as the Party of Harmonious Development{{Cite web|title=ПОЛІТИЧНА ПАРТІЯ РУХ НОВИХ СИЛ МИХАЙЛА СААКАШВІЛІ|url=https://opendatabot.ua/c/39634331|access-date=2020-06-11|website=opendatabot.ua}} on 11 February 2015, and renamed on 23 February 2017 by former Georgian President and former Ukrainian Governor of Odesa Oblast Mikheil Saakashvili.{{#tag:ref|In May 2017 a Ukrainian political party "Mikheil Saakashvili Bloc" was also officially registered; but Saakashvili has no involvement with this party.{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7144696 In Ukraine, a party Saakashvili without Saakashvili], Ukrayinska Pravda (23 May 2017) "Mikheil Saakashvili Bloc" was founded by Dmytro Holubov whom was at the time a member of the Ukrainian parliament for Petro Poroshenko Bloc.{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7145416/ Saakashvili met with the same Petrenko], Ukrayinska Pravda (30 May 2017)|group=nb}}
History
After autumn 2015 attempts and negotiations were launched to form a political party around then Governor of Odesa Oblast Mikheil Saakashvili and members of the parliamentary group Interfactional Union "Eurooptimists", Democratic Alliance and possibly Self Reliance. This project collapsed in June 2016.{{cite news|title=Difficulties of ambition. Why young politicians can not agree on a single party|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2016/07/4/7113624/|access-date=5 August 2017|work=Ukrayinska Pravda|date=4 July 2016|language=uk}}{{#tag:ref|In an April 2016 opinion poll held by Sociological group "RATING", about 10% of those polled were ready to support a party built around Saakashvili.|group=nb}}
On 11 November 2016, Saakashvili announced the establishment of a new Ukrainian political party.[http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-saakashvili-new-political-party/28110449.html Saakashvili Announces New Political Force, Calls For Early Ukraine Elections], Radio Free Europe (11 November 2016) This was done four days after he resigned as Governor of Odesa Oblast, blaming President Petro Poroshenko personally for enabling corruption in Odesa and in Ukraine overall.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37895588 Georgian Saakashvili quits as Ukraine Odessa governor], BBC News (7 November 2016){{#tag:ref|On 13 February 2015, Saakashvili was appointed by President Petro Poroshenko as head of the International Advisory Council on Reforms – an advisory body whose main task is working out proposals and recommendations for implementation and introduction of reforms in Ukraine based on best international practices.{{cite news|title=Saakashvili Appointed as Head of Ukraine's Int'l Advisory Council on Reforms|url=http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28044|access-date=14 February 2015|work=Civil Georgia|date=13 February 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150215154744/http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28044|archive-date=15 February 2015|url-status=dead}} On 30 May 2015 Poroshenko had appointed Saakashvili Governor of Odesa Oblast (region). On the previous day, 29 May 2015, he was granted Ukrainian citizenship by Poroshenko.{{cite news|title=Saakashvili Confirmed As Governor Of Ukraine's Odesa Region|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/poroshenko-considering-saakashvili-for-governor-of-ukraine-odesa-region/27043987.html|access-date=30 May 2015|work=RFE/RL|date=29 May 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/19531.html |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ № 301/2015 - Офіційне представництво Президента України |publisher=President.gov.ua |access-date=2015-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602040433/http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/19531.html |archive-date=2 June 2015 |df=dmy }}|group=nb}} On 27 November 2016 this party (now named Movement of New Forces{{cite news|url=http://ukropnews24.com/saakashvili-announced-the-title-of-his-party-the-movement-of-new-forces/ |title=Saakashvili announced the title of his party – the "Movement of new forces"|website= ukropnews24.com|date=19 November 2016}}) held its first rally in Kyiv.{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-saakashvili-rally-kyiv-/28142323.html |title=Saakashvili Holds Rally In Support Of New Political Movement In Ukraine|work= Radio Free Europe|date=28 November 2016|language=UK}} In August of that same year Saakashvili was allegedly in talks to create another liberal party with ex-deputy general prosecutors Vitaly Kasko, David Sakvarelidze, MP {{ill|Viktor Chumak|uk|Чумак Віктор Васильович|vertical-align=sup}}, and others.{{cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/minakov-webb-a-new-party-for-ukraine |title=A new party for Ukraine's euro-optimists?|website= www.opendemocracy.net|date= 15 August 2016}} In July 2016, Chumak stated that a future party called Wave would be led by Saakashvili.{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.dw.com/uk/%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%96-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8E%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%83-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D1%96%D1%8E-%D1%85%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8F/a-19407720 Saakashvili's allies create a new party “Wave"], Deutsche Welle (July 18, 2016)
In late February 2017, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine registered Movement of New Forces officially as a political party.{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-39117579 Saakashvili officially registered party], BBC Ukrainian (28 February 2017) On 24 December 2016, Saakashvili claimed that the new party had "already registered 25,000 members."{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7130832/ Saakashvili names the number of people in his Union of New Forces], Ukrayinska Pravda (24 December 2016){{#tag:ref|In a November–December 2016 opinion poll held by SOCIS and Sociological group "RATING" 4.1% of people polled stated that they would vote for the Movement of New Forces in a hypothetical early election although the party had not yet been officially registered.[https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/poll-shows-seven-parties-qualify-ukrainian-rada-elections-held-early.html Poll shows seven parties would qualify for Ukrainian Rada if elections were held early], KyivPost (14 December 2016)|group=nb}}
In April 2017, the party Volia and Movement of New Forces announced they would merge.{{in lang|uk}} [http://espreso.tv/news/2017/04/19/saakashvili_obyednavsya_z_partiyeyu_quotvolyaquot Saakashvili has teamed up with the party "Freedom"], Espreso TV (19 April 2017) At the same time, according to Saakashvili, nine Ukrainian mayors joined this new association.
In July 2017, the Movement of New Forces and the political movement Spravedlivost of Valentyn Nalyvaichenko created a "joint action headquarters".[https://www.unian.info/politics/2046281-weeks-milestones-calculated-escalation-overhaul-by-groysman-and-imitation-of-mobilization.html Week’s milestones. Calculated escalation, overhaul by Groysman, and imitation of mobilization], UNIAN (25 July 2017)
[http://www.newsweek.com/nolan-peterson-top-spy-who-fighting-corruption-ukraine-543723 NOLAN PETERSON: THE TOP SPY WHO IS FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE], Newsweek (20 January 2017)
{{cite web|url=http://booktable.info/articles/nalyvaichenko-and |title=Nalyvaichenko and Saakashvili's political strength will create the joint platform|website= booktable.info|date= 24 July 2017}}
On 26 July 2017, President Poroshenko issued a decree stripping party leader Saakashvili of his Ukrainian citizenship.{{cite news |author= |title=Ukraine strips citizenship of ex-Georgia leader Saakashvili |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukraine-strips-citizenship-georgia-leader-saakashvili-48863753 |agency=Associated Press |location=ABC News |date=26 July 2017 |access-date=27 July 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726211620/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukraine-strips-citizenship-georgia-leader-saakashvili-48863753 |archive-date=26 July 2017 }}
{{cite news |author= |title=Georgia ex-leader Saakashvili stripped of Ukraine's citizenship |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40738193 |work=BBC News |location=BBC News |date=27 July 2017 |access-date=27 July 2017 }}
{{cite news |author= |title=Saakashvili May Be Forced To Seek Asylum In United States, Legislator Says |url=https://www.finchannel.com/world/georgia/66871-saakashvili-may-be-forced-to-seek-asylum-in-united-states-legislator-says |work=The Financial |location=The Financial |date=27 July 2017 |access-date=27 July 2017 }} In Ukraine only Ukrainian citizens can lead political parties or be elected to its parliament.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-saakashvili-citizenship-idUSKBN1AB2DG Ukraine president strips one-time ally Saakashvili of citizenship], Reuters (26 July 2017) David Sakvarelidze became the acting party leader.[http://m.spiegel.de/international/world/mikheil-saakashvili-fails-in-mission-to-reform-ukraine-a-1163344.html Would-Be Reformer Saakashvili Cast Out of Ukraine], Spiegel Online (18 August 2017)
In October 2017, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine prepared an appeal to the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption with a request to check the activities of 21 parties including the Movement of New Forces and Our Ukraine because of the presence of signs of shadow financing. The reason for initiating the verification of the Movement of New Forces was the lack of reporting on the Agency's website for the second quarter of 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cvu.org.ua/nodes/view/type:news/slug:kvu-zaklykaie-nazk-pereviryty-diialnist-21-partii|title=KIU calls on Nazka to check the activities of the 21st party-VOU "Voter Committee of Ukraine"|website = www.cvu.org.ua}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2323015-nazk-prosat-pereviriti-tinovi-dohodi-21-partii.html|title = NAPC is asked to check "shadow revenues" 21 lots|language=uk}}
On 5 December 2017, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko stated that Saakashvili had received half a million dollars from Ukrainian oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko for organizing protests. It was stated that Kurchenko provided funds to seize Saakashvili's power in Ukraine and expected that in return criminal cases would be closed and control over his assets restored.{{Cite web|title=Саакашвілі отримав півмільйона доларів від Курченка - глава ГПУ|url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2357935-saakasvili-otrimav-pivmiljona-dolariv-vid-kurcenka-glava-gpu.html|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.ukrinform.ua|date=5 December 2017 |language=uk}} Records of Saakashvili allegedly talking to Sergei Kurchenko have been released.{{Cite web|title=ГПУ показала запис розмов Саакашвілі і Курченка|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2017/12/5/7164356/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Українська правда|language=uk}} Saakashvili denied the allegations.{{Cite news|title=Оголошений у розшук Саакашвілі оприлюднив під Радою свій план|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/28897650.html|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk}} Three criminal proceedings were registered on the facts of the protests of December 17.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-17|title=Поліція порушила справу через спробу захоплення Жовтневого – Аброськін|url=https://tsn.ua/politika/policiya-porushila-spravu-cherez-sprobu-zahoplennya-zhovtnevogo-abroskin-1065650.html|access-date=2020-06-11|website=ТСН.ua|language=uk}}
After Saakashvili (after being first deported to Poland) relocated to the Netherlands in February 2018 he only has an advisory role in the party.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/mikheil-saakashvili-georgia-former-president-seized-by-armed-men-in-kiev |title=Georgia's former president deported from Ukraine to Poland |last=Bennetts |first=Marc |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 February 2018 |access-date=12 February 2018}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180214172825/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/14/c_136976284.htm Former Georgian president arrives in Netherlands after Ukraine deportation], Xinhua, 14 February 2018{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2018/06/22/7184145/ Without Miho. What is happening in the Saakashvili party after its deportation], Ukrayinska Pravda (June 22, 2018){{#tag:ref|In a May 2018 opinion poll held by Razumkov Centre and Democratic Initiatives Fund 0.6% of people polled stated that they would vote for the Movement of New Forces in a hypothetical early election.{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2018/06/14/7183365/ The two parties are on the verge of passing barriers], Ukrayinska Pravda (June 14, 2018)|group=nb}}
In December 2018 the party Volia reversed its decision to merge with the party. Volia party leader (and member of the Ukrainian parliament) Yury Derevyanko stated Volia would not merge because Movement of New Forces leader Saakashvili was more interested in his native Georgia than in Ukrainian politics.{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2018/12/24/7202205/ Derevyanko said that he was leaving the Saakashvili party], Ukrayinska Pravda (24 December 2018) Derevyanko also claimed that 90% of local council members of Movement of New Forces had joined Volia.{{cite news|url=https://m.glavcom.ua/country/politics/derevyanko-viyshov-z-ruhu-saakashvili-sam-i-zabrav-mayzhe-vsih-deputativ-555872.html|title=Derevyanko betray Saakashvili? The MP left the Movement of New Forces|website=glavcom.ua|date=24 December 2018|language=uk}}
On 29 May 2019 Saakashvili returned to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky returned his Ukrainian citizenship; but
Saakashvili soon stated that he had no political ambitions in Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://m.glavcom.ua/news/sakvarelidze-rozpoviv-chomu-saakashvili-vidmovivsya-ocholiti-udar-600139.html|title=Sakvarelidze tells why Saakashvili refuses to head "UDAR"|website=glavcom.ua|language=uk|date=7 June 2019|access-date=2020-04-22}}
The party in June 2019 stated it intended to run in the late July 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election.{{Cite web|url=https://m.glavcom.ua/news/sakvarelidze-rozpoviv-chomu-saakashvili-vidmovivsya-ocholiti-udar-600139.html|title = Сакварелідзе розповів, чому Саакашвілі відмовився очолити "Удар"|website=glavcom.ua| date=7 June 2019 }} On 23 June 2019 the Central Election Commission of Ukraine refused party members to register for the July parliamentary election because allegedly the 10 June party congress had violated the party’s statute.[https://112.international/ukraine-top-news/snap-elections-central-election-commission-refuses-to-register-candidates-from-saakashvilis-party-41018.html Snap elections: Central Election Commission refuses to register candidates from Saakashvili’s party], 112 Ukraine (23 June 2019) Two days later the Administrative Court of Kyiv overturned this Central Election Commission decision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfm.ru/news/417785|title=Суд в Киеве отменил решение ЦИК об отказе партии Саакашвили в регистрации на выборах|website=BFM.ru - деловой портал}} On 19 July 2019, the leader of the Movement of New Forces party Mikheil Saakashvili called on his supporters to vote for the Servant of the People party at the 2019 parliamentary election.{{Cite web|url=https://ukr.lb.ua/news/2019/07/19/432617_saakashvili_zaklikav_prihilnikiv.html|title=Саакашвілі закликав прихильників віддати голоси за "Слугу народу"|website=LB.ua|date=2019-07-19|access-date=2019-07-20|language=uk}} At these elections, Saakashvili himself was first on its party list,{{Cite web|url=https://ukr.vote/en/elections/8/candidate/6827/ukraine|title=Електоральна пам'ять|website=ukr.vote}} Movement of New Forces failed to win any parliamentary seats gaining 0.46% of the total votes while the election had a 5% election threshold (43.16% voted for Servant of the People).[https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/605571.html Servant of the People Party wins 124 mandates on party ticket in Rada elections], Interfax-Ukraine (5 August 2019) The party also failed to win a constituency seat. It had participated in 9 constituencies{{Cite web|url=https://ukr.vote/en/parties/257|title=Електоральна пам'ять|website=ukr.vote}} where its most successful candidate's election result was 2.54%, the second best candidate gained 1.8%. Volia also did not win any parliamentary seats in the election.[https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-elections/2748306-cec-counts-100-percent-of-vote-in-ukraines-parliamentary-elections.html CEC counts 100 percent of vote in Ukraine's parliamentary elections], Ukrinform (26 July 2019)
{{in lang|ru}} [https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2019/07/21/7221526/ Results of the extraordinary elections of the People's Deputies of Ukraine 2019], Ukrayinska Pravda (21 July 2019)
In the 2020 Ukrainian local elections 1 person won a local seat on behalf of the party.{{cite web|title=Results of the 2020 Ukrainian local elections on the official web-server of the |url=https://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/vm2020/pvm002pt001f01=695pt00_t001f01=695.html|work=Central Election Commission of Ukraine|access-date=12 January 2021|language=uk}}
Management
{{update|section|date=December 2020}}
The party's Political Council includes Mikheil Saakashvili, Yuri Derevyanko, David Sakvarelidze and Olga Galabala.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Political positions
In April 2017 party leader Saakashvili proposed "building of a large wall" to "temporarily isolate ourselves" from the separatist Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in order to "concentrate on the rest of Ukraine." Saakashvili is confident in the return under control of the Ukrainian Government of these separatist territories, but only "after we defeat corruption and begin rapid development."[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/415532.html Saakashvili proposes new "wall project' for Donbas], Interfax-Ukraine (12 April 2017)
Early June 2019 party leaders Sakvarelidze and Saakashvili stated that the party wanted "to support the new wave brought by the team of (recently elected) Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy".https://m.glavcom.ua/topics/dovibori/saakashvili-ruh-novih-sil-samostijno-bratime-uchast-v-parlamentskih-viborah-600354.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
References
{{reflist|25em}}
External links
- {{Official|https://rns.org.ua/ }} {{in lang|uk}}
{{Ukrainian political parties}}
Category:2017 establishments in Ukraine
Category:Liberal parties in Ukraine