While in 2005 there were 347,000 members, now the number is 97,941. In Zahorodny’s opinion, it is evidence that the party is past its organizational crises, analyzed its mistakes, made conclusions and can offer a new strategy for the party development.

Only true Social Democrats have remained in the party, SDPU boss believes, with deadwood leaving the party ranks. He said that Viktor Baloha, Yushchenko’s chief-of-staff, is a former SDPU member. “There are many politicians who had previously worked actively in SDPU. At least 30 to 40% of BYUT and Regions factions in VR are former SDPU members. As soon as they matured as politicians, they defected from SDPU and started their own careers. He said that, while Our Ukraine keeps repeating SDPU mistakes, Regions is doing the same on a much faster rate.