Are the motto of the Social Democratic Union
By Dmytro SKRIABIN, The Day
Last Saturday, Social Democratic Union and the journal Chelovek i vlada
(Person and State) held a round table (see photo) to discuss the topic,
the Social Democratic Union and political and socioeconomic transformations
in Ukraine. The meeting, attended by politicians, scholars, journalists,
and People's Deputies, discussed issues relating to the role of Social
Democracy in Ukraine, organizing a democratic state, and the upcoming presidential
elections.
Regarding the difference of the SDU from other parties advocating Social
Democratic principles, SDU Chairman Serhiy Peresunko pointed out that immediately
after its establishment, the SDU clearly stated its opposition to the current
regime. Mr. Peresunko said, "We promote different forms of ownership, but
we are against the sale of industrial land (that is areas used for agriculture).
On the other hand, the SDU does not oppose the sale of land occupied by
industrial facilities and buildings. SDU policy proposals include free
public and higher education and state-supported medical insurance. To ensure
the further growth of parliamentary democracy, the SDU advocates creating
a bicameral parliament. Currently, the Union consists of 48,000 members
and has organizations in all Ukrainian oblast centers and 320 district
centers."
Philosopher Myroslav Popovych stressed that Social Democratic ideas
are typical for the Ukrainian mentality. At the same time, he noted that
when reading a policy proposal by Mr. Zinchenko, one of the SDPU(o) leaders,
he could not find two important words there: poverty and wage labor. "But
Social Democracy as a political trend emerged in order to help the poor
in some way," said Prof. Popovych. "Hence, I support Serhiy Peresunko who
said, 'We cannot feel at ease when there is such mass poverty'."
The SDU stated that in the presidential elections it will support Yevhen
Marchuk, on whom Ukrainian Social Democrats pin their hopes for social
and economic transformations in Ukraine.







