View source for Strong Ukraine

{{Infobox political party
| country          = Ukraine
| name             = Strong Ukraine
| native_name      = Сильна Україна
| logo             = Strong Ukraine logo (2014 variant).svg
| leader           = [[Serhiy Tyhypko]]<ref name="Strong Ukraine revived"/>
| foundation       = 23 April 2014<ref name=SUib23414/>(re-established)<br />19 June 1999<ref name=offical/>
| dissolution      = 
| merged           = 
| ideology         = [[Social liberalism]]<ref name="Olszanski">{{cite web |first=Tadeusz A. |last=Olszański |title=Ukraine's political parties at the start of the election campaign |publisher=[[Centre for Eastern Studies]] |date=17 September 2014 |url=http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2014-09-17/ukraines-political-parties-start-election-campaign}}</ref>
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]]<ref name="Olszanski"/><ref name="Nordsieck">{{cite web|url=http://parties-and-elections.eu/ukraine.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211142/http://parties-and-elections.eu/ukraine.html|archive-date=12 June 2018|year=2014|title=Ukraine|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|first=Wolfram|last=Nordsieck|access-date=6 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> to [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]]<ref name="PDF">{{cite web|url=https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/07638-20101124.pdf}}</ref>
| international    = 
| national         = [[Opposition Bloc (2019)]]
| colours          = {{Color box|#FFFF00|border=darkgray}} [[Yellow]] {{Color box|#005cb9|border=darkgray}} [[Blue]]
| colorcode        = {{Party color|Strong Ukraine}}
| headquarters     = 
| website          = {{URL|http://silnaukraina.com/}}
| seats1_title     = [[Verkhovna Rada]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|0|450|#0080FF}}
| seats2_title     = [[2015 Ukrainian local elections|Regions]] (2015)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cvk.gov.ua/wvm2015/pvm002pt001f01=100pt00_t001f01=100.html|script-title=uk:Кандидати, яких обрано депутатами рад|language=uk|work=cvk.gov.ua|date=15 November 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113225301/http://www.cvk.gov.ua/wvm2015/pvm002pt001f01%3D100pt00_t001f01%3D100.html|archive-date=13 November 2015}}</ref>
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|0|158399|#0080FF}}
}}

'''Strong Ukraine''' ({{langx|uk|Сильна Україна|Sylna Ukraina}}); formerly the '''Labour Party Ukraine'''{{efn|{{langx|uk|links=no|Трудова партія України|Trudova partiia Ukrainy}}}},<ref name=DATA>{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.da-ta.com.ua/mon_mainnews/859.htm Політична партія "Сильна Україна"], Database DATA</ref> is a [[political party]] in [[Ukraine]] that was re-established in April 2014.<ref name=SUib23414>{{in lang|uk}} [http://tvi.ua/new/2014/04/23/vybory_tihipko_reanimuvav_sylnu_ukrayinu_a_sadovyy_vyznachyvsya_iz_kandydatamy_do_kyyivrady Elections: Tihipko revived "Strong Ukraine"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026113737/http://tvi.ua/new/2014/04/23/vybory_tihipko_reanimuvav_sylnu_ukrayinu_a_sadovyy_vyznachyvsya_iz_kandydatamy_do_kyyivrady |date=2014-10-26 }}, [[TVi (channel)|TVi]] (23 April 2014)<br />{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.day.kiev.ua/uk/news/230414-tigipko-zbiraietsya-vidroditi-silnu-ukrayinu-z-chastinoyu-regionaliv-zmi Tihipko going to revive "Strong Ukraine"], [[Den (newspaper)|Den]] (23 April 2014)</ref> It was originally registered in August 1999 and dissolved in March 2012<ref name=DATA/> after it had merged with the [[Party of Regions]] on 17 March 2012.<ref name=finmergePORSU/> Since late 2009 the party was and is the main vehicle of billionaire [[Serhiy Tihipko]].<ref name=Nov2010>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93059/ #23 Richest: Sergiy Tigipko, 50], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (December 17, 2010)</ref> After the parties merger Tihipko became a member of the Party of Regions.<ref name=TihigosPoR>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/114318/ Man With A Mission], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (October 7, 2011)</ref> On 7 April 2014 the political council of this party expelled Tihipko from the Party of Regions.<ref name=7414expfPoR/>

The party claimed to have over 80,000 members in mid-May 2010.<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/69729/ Strong Ukraine ready to unite with other political forces on reform basis], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (June 15, 2010)</ref>

In the [[2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election]] the party won one constituency parliamentary seat.<ref name="allcountedCECIU81114">[http://utr.tv/eng/news-from-www-ukrinform-ua/327072-poroshenko_bloc_to_have_greatest_number_of_seats_in_parliament_327072.html Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110220835/http://utr.tv/eng/news-from-www-ukrinform-ua/327072-poroshenko_bloc_to_have_greatest_number_of_seats_in_parliament_327072.html |date=2014-11-10 }}, [[Ukrainian Television and Radio]] (8 November 2014)<br />[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/233404.html People's Front 0.33% ahead of Poroshenko Bloc with all ballots counted in Ukraine elections - CEC], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (8 November 2014)<br />[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/233426.html Poroshenko Bloc to get 132 seats in parliament - CEC], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (8 November 2014)</ref>

==History==

===Labour Party Ukraine===
[[File:Labour Party Ukraine logo.gif|thumb|Labour Party Ukraine logo]]
{{Distinguish|Party of Labor (Ukraine)|Labour Ukraine}}
Founded on 19 June 1999<ref name=offical/> as Labour Party Ukraine it did not participate in the [[legislative]] [[2002 Ukrainian parliamentary election|elections of 30 March 2002]].<ref name=DATA/>

In the [[2006 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2006 elections]], the party failed as part of "[[Bloc Borys Olijnyk and Myhailo Syrota]]" to win parliamentary representation (the Bloc won 0,08% of the votes).<ref name=DATA/>

In the [[2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary elections]] the party was part of the [[Lytvyn Bloc]] alliance, that won 20 out of 450 seats.<ref name="DATA"/><ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://gazeta.ua/index.php?id=293612 Трудова партія не підтримає Литвина на виборах Президента], Gazeta.ua (25 May 2009)</ref>

===Strong Ukraine===

====Re-branding and merger with Party of Regions====
[[File:Strong Ukraine (old logo).png|thumb|The party logo from November 2009 till the party obtained a new logo on 5 August 2014<ref>{{in lang|uk}} [Тігіпка переобрано головою оновленої партії "Сильна Україна" Tigipko re-elected renewed party "Strong Ukraine"], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (5 August 2014)</ref>]]
On 28 November 2009, at the 10th Congress, Labour Party Ukraine was renamed Strong Ukraine.<ref name=offical>{{in lang|uk}} [http://silnaukraina.com/static/page/id/176 Історія Партiї] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609174635/http://silnaukraina.com/static/page/id/176 |date=2010-06-09 }}, Party Official Website</ref>

Strong Ukraine endorsed its new leader [[Serhiy Tihipko]] (former partyleader of [[Labour Ukraine]]<ref name=ceuST>[http://pdc.ceu.hu/archive/00001282/01/17.pdf Trudova Ukraina elects a new chairman], [[Policy Documentation Center]] (27 November 2000)</ref><ref>[http://photo.unian.net/eng/keywords/3918?fp=352 Keywords: Sergey Tigipko] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101085702/https://photo.unian.net/eng/keywords/3918?fp=352 |date=2018-11-01 }}, [[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency]]</ref>), also elected in November 2009,<ref name="interfax.com.ua">{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.interfax.com.ua/ukr/main/32695/ Партії "Сильна Україна" та "Інформаційна Україна" створили блок Сергія Тігіпка "Сильна Україна"], [[Interfax Ukraine]] (February 22, 2009)</ref> in the [[2010 Ukrainian presidential election]].<ref name=2010ele>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/53855/ Sylna Ukrayina party to support Tihipko in presidential elections], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (November 28, 2009)</ref> Fellow billionaire Oleksandr Kardakov was another influential member of the party.<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/93037/ #45 Richest: Oleksandr Kardakov, 46], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (December 17, 2010)</ref>

On 22 February 2010, during a party congress, the party announced it would compete in the [[2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election]] not as part of the Lytvyn Bloc but in an [[electoral alliance]] with the party [[Information Ukraine]].<ref name="interfax.com.ua"/><ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://gazeta.ua/index.php?id=328193 Тігіпко створив свій виборчий блок], Gazeta.ua (February 22, 2010)</ref>

On 11 March 2010 party leader Tihipko was elected as one of six deputy Prime Ministers (in charge of economic issues<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/61555/ Old Kuchma faces lead new government with Mykola Azarov as head], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (March 11, 2010)</ref>) in the [[First Azarov government|Azarov Government]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/11/ukraine-government-yanukovych-azarov Ukraine's new government puts final nail in coffin of the Orange Revolution], ''[[The Guardian]]'' (March 11, 2010)</ref>

A March 2010 poll predicted that the party would get 7.3% of the vote at the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election.<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/63737/ Party Of Regions, Tymoshenko bloc, Strong Ukraine, Front for Change and Communist Party would get into parliament], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (April 12, 2010)</ref> A May 2010 poll by the ''Kyiv International Institute of Sociology'' showed that the party had the greatest support among voters in central Ukraine (11%), and less supported in the west and south (7%); the lowest number of this party's supporters was in east Ukraine (5%).<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/66496/ Poll: Political forces of Tigipko, Yatseniuk, Communist Party in Top 5 of April rating of parties], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (May 12, 2010)</ref> At the [[2010 Ukrainian local elections|2010 local elections]] the party gained about 6% of the votes nationwide.<ref name=Nov2010/>

In the [[2010 Ukrainian local elections|2010 local elections]] the party won representative in 20 of the 24 regional parliaments and in the [[Supreme Council of Crimea]].<ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2010/11/8/5552584/ Results of the elections, preliminary data, on interactive maps] by [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (8 November 2010)</ref>

In May 2011 the rating of the party had dropped to about 5% in election polls.<ref>[http://razumkov.org.ua/eng/poll.php?poll_id=115 If parliamentary elections were held next Sunday how would you vote? (recurrent poll, 2010-2011)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042611/http://razumkov.org.ua/eng/poll.php?poll_id=115 |date=2016-03-04 }} by [[Razumkov Centre]]</ref><ref>[http://www.ratinggroup.com.ua/en/cardiogram/parties/ Ratings of parties (recurrent poll, 2005-2011)] by [[Sociological group "RATING"]]</ref>

In August 2011 Tihipko and [[Ukrainian Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] (and a [[Party of Regions]] (POR) leader) [[Mykola Azarov]] announced that Strong Ukraine and POR are going to team up and eventually Strong Ukraine will be merged into POR.<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/110925/ Azarov: Regions Party teams up with Strong Ukraine], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (August 16, 2011)</ref> Tihipko will become a POR member along with other Strong Ukraine representatives.<ref name=TihigosPoR/><ref name=SUmergePoR1>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/115500/ Strong Ukraine postpones decision on merger with Regions Party], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (22 October 2011)</ref><ref name=SUmergePoR2>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/115502/ Strong Ukraine to prepare its proposals to Regions Party on posts distribution, says Tigipko], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (22 October 2011)</ref><ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/115501/ Kuzhel leaves Strong Ukraine, creates new civil movement], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (22 October 2011)</ref> Mid-December 2011 Tihipko predicted the unification process would be completed late January 2012; but he also warned that if "problematic issues" would not be solved Strong Ukraine would not merge.<ref name=mergeSUlate12012>{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/16/6844147/ Тігіпко назвав причини, які перешкодять йому стати "регіоналом"], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (16 December 2011)</ref> The parties merged on 17 March 2012.<ref name=finmergePORSU>[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/124603/ Tigipko hooks up with Party of Regions], [[Kyiv Post]] (20 March 2012)<br />[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/124446 Strong Ukraine party decides on disbanding to join Regions Party], [[Kyiv Post]] (17 March 2012)</ref> According to [[Sociological group "RATING"]] the party would have collected 3.1% of the votes if Ukrainian parliamentary election would have occurred in February 2012.<ref>[http://ratinggroup.com.ua/en/products/politic/data/entry/13990/ Electoral moods of the Ukrainian population: February 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129225011/http://ratinggroup.com.ua/en/products/politic/data/entry/13990/ |date=2014-11-29 }}, [[Sociological group "RATING"]] (March 5, 2012)</ref> In August 2012 experts believed potential voters of Tihipko and his Strong Ukraine! shifted their allegiance to [[Ukraine – Forward!]].<ref name=2012Benjamins>[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/korolevska-recruits-acting-sports-stars-for-campaign.html Korolevska recruits acting, sports stars for campaign], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (Aug. 2, 2012)</ref> In the [[2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election|28 October 2012 parliamentary elections]] Ukraine – Forward won 1.58% of the national votes and no [[constituencies]] and thus failed to win parliamentary representation.<ref name=Ukrelct2012resCECU>{{in lang|uk}} [http://www.cvk.gov.ua/vnd2012/wp300pt001f01=900.html Proportional votes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030000000/http://www.cvk.gov.ua/vnd2012/wp300pt001f01%3D900.html |date=2012-10-30 }} & [http://www.cvk.gov.ua/vnd2012/wp039pt001f01=900.html Constituency seats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105073259/http://www.cvk.gov.ua/vnd2012/wp039pt001f01%3D900.html |date=2012-11-05 }}, [[Central Election Commission of Ukraine]]</ref>

====Re-establishment====
[[File:Результати виборів до ВР України 2014 (Партія Сергія Тігіпка Сильна Україна).png|thumb|270px|Party support (% of the votes cast) in different regions of Ukraine (in the 2014 election).]]
In March 2014 Tihipko became a self-nominated candidate for [[President of Ukraine]] in the [[2014 Ukrainian presidential election|2014 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.economonitor.com/blog/2014/03/why-ukraines-president-doesnt-matter/],(March 27, 2014)</ref> On 29 March a Party of Regions convention supported [[Mykhailo Dobkin|Mykhailo Dobkin's]] nomination as a presidential candidate.<ref name=7414expfPoR>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/199490.html Ukraine's Party of Regions expels presidential hopefuls Tigipko, Tsariov and Boiko], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (7 April 2014)</ref> On 7 April 2014 the political council of the party expelled Tihipko from the party.<ref name=7414expfPoR/> He then accused that the party had "been turned into a branch of a specific financial and industrial group, a private enterprise".<ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/199506.html Tigipko accuses Party of Regions of betraying interests of Ukraine], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (7 April 2014)</ref> On 23 April 2014 Tihipko announced that Strong Ukraine would be revived and that its merger with Party of Regions had been "a mistake".<ref name=SUib23414/>

On 5 August 2014 the party held its first Congress since its re-establishment.<ref name="Strong Ukraine revived">{{in lang|uk}} [http://gazeta.ua/articles/politics-newspaper/_silna-ukrayina-vidrodilasya/574089 "Strong Ukraine" revived"], [[gazeta.ua]] (8 August 2014)</ref>

In the [[2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election]] Tihipko headed the party list of the party, followed by former government minister [[Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi]].<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukraine-votes-on-oct-26-to-elect-new-parliament-369193.html Ukraine Votes On Oct. 26 To Elect New Parliament], ''[[Kyiv Post]]'' (Oct. 24, 2014)</ref> In the election the party failed to clear the 5% [[election threshold]] (it got 3.11% of the votes) but did win one constituency seat and thus one parliamentary seat.<ref name="allcountedCECIU81114"/>

==Ideology and stances==
According to Tihipko the party is "[[patriotic]] but not [[nationalistic]]".<ref name="Strong Ukraine revived"/> Tihipko has stated he wants to "unite the country".<ref name="Strong Ukraine revived"/>

Concerning the [[War in Donbas]], on 5 August 2014 Tihipko said that in March and April 2014 the [[First Yatsenyuk Government|Yatsenyuk Government]] wasted a chance to resolve the conflict through negotiations, and that by early August 2014 this was no longer an option. He also stated that "Terrorists" and their supporters in the east of the country had passed a "point of no return". He supports a professional [[Ukrainian army]] to prevent the conflict spreading to other parts of the country.<ref name="Strong Ukraine revived"/> The party seeks a peaceful resolution to the conflict by negotiating with [[Russia]] through European mediators but not directly with the pro-Russian combatants.<ref>{{in lang|uk}} [http://tigipko.com/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BF-%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%8F-%D1%82%D1%96%D0%B3%D1%96%D0%BF%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D1%97%D0%B7%D0%B4%D1%96-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D1%96/ Speech by Serhiy Tihipko at Congress party "Strong Ukraine"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810063606/http://tigipko.com/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BF-%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%8F-%D1%82%D1%96%D0%B3%D1%96%D0%BF%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D1%97%D0%B7%D0%B4%D1%96-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D1%96/ |date=2014-08-10 }}, Strong Ukraine official website (5 August 2014)<br />[http://en.itar-tass.com/world/743594 Ukraine should negotiate with Russia with Europe's mediation — Ukrainian official], [[ITAR-TASS]] (5 August 2014)</ref>

==Election results==
===Verkhovna Rada===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Year
! Party vote
! % of popular vote
! Constituents won
! Overall seats won
! Seat change
! rowspan=1| Government
|-
! [[2002 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2002]]
| colspan=2|''did not participate''
| {{Composition bar|0|225|hex=darkblue}}
| {{Composition bar|0|450|hex=darkblue}}
| -
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|-
! [[2006 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2006]]
| colspan=2|[[Bloc Borys Olijnyk and Myhailo Syrota|Borys Olijnyk and Myhailo Syrota Bloc]]
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|Party vote only
| {{Composition bar|0|450|hex=darkblue}}
| -
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|-
! [[2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2007]]
| colspan=2|[[Lytvyn Bloc]]
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|Party vote only
| {{Composition bar|20|450|hex=darkblue}}
| {{increase}} 20{{efn|name=fn1}}
| {{yes|Coalition government}}
|-
! [[2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2012]]
| colspan=2|''merged with'' [[Party of Regions]] 
| {{Composition bar|0|225|hex=darkblue}}
| {{Composition bar|0|450|hex=darkblue}}
| {{decrease}} 20
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|-
! [[2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2014]]
| 488,798
| 3.1
| {{Composition bar|1|225|hex=darkblue}}
| {{Composition bar|1|450|hex=darkblue}}
| {{increase}} 1
| {{no|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election|2019]]
| colspan=2|[[Opposition Bloc (2019)|Opposition Bloc]] 
| {{Composition bar|0|225|hex=darkblue}}
| {{Composition bar|0|450|hex=darkblue}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{no|Extra-parliamentary}}
|}


==Notes==
{{notelist|notes=
<!--{{efn|name=merged|Merged with [[Party of Regions]]}}-->
{{efn|name=fn1|Seats distributed on party list between Strong Ukraine and [[People's Party (Ukraine)|People's Party]]}}
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100608015330/http://www.silnaukraina.com/ Official web site]
{{Ukrainian Political Parties}}

[[Category:Labour parties in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Ukraine]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2014]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Centrist parties in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Russian political parties in Ukraine]]