| Leaders have embarrassed the party Exactly a month later, on June 18, the plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation will have to decide whether Gennady Seleznev should leave the post of Chairman of the State Duma. Neither ordinary communists nor their leaders have a common opinion on this. Moreover, any solution to the issue will entail consequences that are important not only for the Communist Party, but also for the entire political system of the country.
It is very likely that on June 18 the direction of development of the largest Russian party will become clear, which, despite the failures of recent years, has a significant influence on government decision-making. There can be no draw in the conflict between Gennady Zyuganov and Gennady Seleznev.
Gennady Seleznev defends not only the position of State Duma speaker, but also his right to political maneuver. Previously, the Communist Party allowed the speaker to behave differently from everyone else, today he is denied this opportunity. If Mr. Seleznev remains an obedient communist, his political career will be over. Because the functionary, for whom the leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation decides everything, is of little interest to anyone.
The leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov defends not only the sanctity of party principles, but also his leadership position in the party. If Mr. Seleznev, contrary to Mr. Zyuganov's demands, retains the post of speaker, he will become too dangerous for the party leader. Mr. Zyuganov has always had a reputation for reducing intra-party opposition to a harmless level. The first defeat may be the last.
Tensions between the party leader and the speaker are growing. So, yesterday, having accepted another group of children as pioneers on Red Square, Gennady Zyuganov once again reminded Gennady Seleznev that he must “implement the decisions of the plenum.” The situation apparently had a pacifying effect on the leader of the Communist Party. A few days earlier, he was much harsher and openly reproached Gennady Seleznev for the fact that he is “usually absent” from chamber meetings when particularly important bills are considered. Mr. Seleznev was surprised by the reproach. He was forced to remind Mr Zyuganov: “I am present and chair all important meetings of the chamber.”
Moreover, Mr. Seleznev went on the offensive. He stated: “If the head of the Moscow party organization Kuvaev again raises the question of my expulsion from the party, then the party organization will be forced to raise the question of Kuvaev himself being expelled from the party.” The speaker still insists on maintaining his current position in the Duma and at the same time hopes to maintain membership in the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. The choice - “either party membership or the speaker of parliament,” according to Mr. Seleznev, generally “puts the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in an awkward position.”
The word chosen is quite correct. If tension in relations between the two leaders increases, then by June 18 the leadership of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation will be forced to choose between Gennady Zyuganov and Gennady Seleznev. The loss of any of the leaders will significantly weaken the Communist Party. Which, just a year and a half before the elections, is unlikely to do her any good. Maria NIKIFOROVA, Leonid PETROV |
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