Kasyanov on two legs

The struggle between the parties in power in the Stavropol Territory helped the ex-prime minister hold meetings with voters

Former Russian Prime Minister and leader of the People's Democratic Union Mikhail Kasyanov made a two-day trip to Stavropol. Such visits to the regions have become traditional for him since the ex-head of government announced his intention to run for the presidency of Russia in 2008. Usually, local authorities put all sorts of obstacles in the way of a guest: at the last moment, his lectures at universities are canceled, and premises are not provided. However, this time the trip took place without the slightest resistance from local authorities.

The reason is the upcoming elections to the regional legislative assembly, scheduled for March 11. As you know, Stavropol recently became a hotbed of intensified struggle between the two parties in power, and it was here that the confrontation between administrative resources has so far manifested itself most eloquently. The mayor of Stavropol, Dmitry Kuzmin, is a member of A Just Russia and the head of the regional branch of this party, and the governor of the Stavropol Territory, Alexander Chernogorov, has recently been a member of United Russia . Last week, in Mineralnye Vody, neighboring Stavropol, Kuzmin’s speech to voters was disrupted. The mayor of Stavropol immediately stated that the riots with the throwing of chicken eggs at the presidium were organized by the Young Guard of United Russia, and the Young Guard in response accused A Just Russia of provocation. As a result, 50 State Duma deputies from United Russia wrote a letter to the Prosecutor General's Office with a request to initiate a criminal case against the mayor of Stavropol for libel.

And now, during Mikhail Kasyanov’s visit, all over Stavropol there were pickets of young United Russia members and “Socialist Revolutionaries” demanding the resignation of either Kuzmin or Chernogorov, respectively. The “Young Guard,” which traditionally pickets Kasyanov’s meetings with representatives of political parties and public organizations in all the cities he visits, this time ignored the event. Apparently, there were only enough human resources to fight the “second leg of the Kremlin,” as “A Just Russia” is commonly called with the light hand of the deputy head of the presidential administration, Vladislav Surkov. The ex-prime minister’s lecture at the university was not cancelled, as happened during trips to other cities. On the contrary, two Stavropol universities fought for the joy of hosting such a prominent lecturer.

On the first day of his visit, Kasyanov met with local activists of the People's Democratic Union and explained to him his position on key issues. He reminded his supporters that he considers the course of the Russian President to be wrong. The former prime minister assessed Vladimir Putin’s recent speech in Munich: “We heard an aggressive position on all international issues. This actually means the head of state admits the failure of his foreign policy.” Mr. Kasyanov also shared his vision of the latest government reshuffle. In his opinion, the resignation of Sergei Ivanov from the post of Minister of Defense and his equalization with Dmitry Medvedev in the status of first deputy prime minister (before that Ivanov was simply vice), increases the likelihood of a third term for President Putin. “I see only one goal in this - to make an unstable structure controlled by one person. According to my calculations, the probability of a third term scenario after this reshuffle increased from 25 to 35%,” said the former prime minister.

To fight the current government, according to Mr. Kasyanov, it is necessary to create a broad right-left coalition. Such a coalition is already being created, this is the “Other Russia”, in which the leader of the VAT is actively participating. By the way, in early March, other Russians will hold the so-called “March of Dissent” in St. Petersburg. “Of the independent political forces, only two did not join us - Yabloko and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation,” said Mikhail Kasyanov. As for the Union of Right Forces, which constantly opposes the coalition with the left, then, according to the ex-prime minister, this party is dependent on the Kremlin. “Many in the Union of Right Forces understand this and come to us,” Mr. Kasyanov boasted. One of them, former member of the SPS political council Ivan Starikov, was sitting at the table right next to the ex-prime minister.

Mikhail Kasyanov reminded the VAT activists of the main goal - to win the presidential elections, since it is they, and not the parliamentary ones, that traditionally change the course in our country.

After the meeting with the activists, Mr. Kasyanov went to a farm, where he talked with farmers about agricultural problems, touched a tractor, in a word, “touched the soil” - quite in the spirit of regional trips of candidates for successor to the president from the current government. Having purely symbolically sipped locally produced strong drinks with the farmers, the VAT leader went to the round table “Russia before a choice.”

Mostly representatives of the VAT, human rights activists, Cossacks and students came to talk with the guest. There were no members of other political forces, except for the National Bolshevik allies, at the event, although usually even regional United Russia members attend Mikhail Kasyanov’s round tables. This time, apparently, they were again busy fighting “A Just Russia”.

Ivan Starikov spoke figuratively about this struggle at the round table. “I see billboards along the road. On the one hand, United Russia says: “We are with the president,” on the other hand, “A Just Russia” says: “We are with the president.” You don’t need to be a political expert to understand that these two legs grow from the same place, which ends in the back of the Kremlin administration.”

Mikhail Kasyanov told those present about what needs to be done first to make life in the country better. In essence, he outlined his election program. In particular, in the political sphere, the ex-prime minister considers it necessary to first restore the election of governors and freedom of speech. In the economy - reducing inflation, creating a favorable investment climate, stopping intimidation of entrepreneurs, establishing the inviolability of private property, carrying out administrative reform to reduce state participation in business.

The round table participants asked the ex-prime minister mainly about pressing problems in the North Caucasus. And the ataman of the Stavropol Cossack army, Dmitry Strigunov, asked Mr. Kasyanov how he felt about his nickname Misha Two Percent. The former head of government responded that the abuse of official powers attributed to him was nothing more than an innuendo.

The next day, Mikhail Kasyanov met with deputies of the Stavropol Regional Legislative Assembly, and then gave a lecture at the Stavropol State University.

Ksenia VERETENNIKOVA, Stavropol