Translated material
Party activity
The right and the agrarians have determined who will go to the polls and with what
Parties that, for various reasons, are perceived by public opinion as outsiders are determined to change the situation in their favor . Determination was demonstrated by the congresses of the Union of Right Forces, the Agrarian Party of Russia and the Civil Power party.On Friday, the Union of Right Forces introduced writer, political scientist, doctor of philological sciences, public figure Marietta Chudakova as number three on the federal list - after party leader Nikita Belykh and political council member Boris Nemtsov. “This trio is intended to personify three generations of democrats - from young reformers to experienced liberals,” this is how Nikita Belykh explained the choice of the congress.
Along with the idea of “personification,” the party made sure that the leaders of the regional lists were known and liked by the part of the electorate that was promising for the Union of Right Forces. For example, the Moscow group was led by the leader of the youth movement “Yes!” Maria Gaidar - her activity and integral image will attract many new fans to the Union of Right Forces. An army of fans of the television club “What? Where? When?" will also be fulfilled by the desire to put a tick in front of the Union of Right Forces in the ballot, having learned that the legendary Alexander Byalko has headed the regional group of the Rostov region.
The first number in St. Petersburg is Leonid Gozman, member of the board of RAO UES of Russia, and at the head of the Chelyabinsk list is political scientist Dmitry Oreshkin, whose star has risen recently, but brightly. In total, there are 316 names on the party’s list, divided into 85 regional groups.
The election promises of the Union of Rightist Forces indicate loyalty to the original idea of building, or rather, already “completing” capitalism. According to the Union of Right Forces plan, capitalism, oriented towards the middle class, will solve all social problems: from targeted assistance to poor citizens to decent material support for Russian pensioners. “We want pensioners not to think about how to save a few rubles, but to have the opportunity to freely travel around the world,” Nikita Belykh tried to attract the attention of the elderly.
The Union of Right Forces also demonstrated extraordinary courage, giving a positive assessment of the reforms of the 90s: “We believe that they were necessary and, despite the inevitable mistakes, successful,” the program document says. The leader of the Union of Right Forces called on his ranks to mobilize, since the party has been “engaging in hostilities” since the congress. The task set is more than ambitious: to get at least 10% of the votes in the elections. And this will require not only the mobilization of all forces, but also a proven strategy, assertive tactics and clear, targeted PR.
“Military actions” started right at the congress. Since the Russian people traditionally love those persecuted by the authorities, not a single case of disgrace should be neglected. The first incident was not long in coming. On September 17, the governor of the Amur region, Nikolai Kolesov, summoned the head of the regional branch of the Union of Right Forces, a deputy of the regional council, the rector of the Amur State University, Professor Plutenko, and “in an ultimatum form” set the maximum bar - no more than 4% that the Union of Right Forces can receive in the region, demanding from Plutenko execution of this task. Having received a refusal, the governor threatened to remove the rector from his position. The congress delegates unanimously adopted an appeal to the country's leadership demanding that the Amur governor be removed from office.
On Sunday, another right-wing party, “Civil Force,” also decided on its list and election program. At the party congress, lawyer Mikhail Barshchevsky was again elected chairman of its supreme council. At first, he proposed to resign as chairman, since all the tasks assigned to him by the party had been completed. However, the delegates did not let go of their leader, also known to the people from the game “What? Where? When?". “I won’t flirt, I’m ready to continue working,” Mr. Barshchevsky agreed with the delegates. In addition to him, the top three will include the chairman of the federal political council of the party, Alexander Ryavkin, and State Duma deputy, chairman of the Russian Motorists Movement, Viktor Pokhmelkin.
“Civil Force” found a niche in opposing itself to leftist sentiments, calling itself the only full-fledged right-wing party. “We are a navigator party, showing where society should develop,” Mikhail Barshchevsky said without undue modesty.
On Saturday, the Agrarian Party of Russia also reminded itself of itself, the congress of which was held not in some club near Moscow, like others, but in the October Hall of the House of Unions. And again, the top three on the federal list turned out to be unexpected and very promising. The list is topped by party leader Vladimir Plotnikov, and second place went to former State Duma deputy Vladimir Shandybin, whose remarks from the lower house once greatly amused the Russian public. The third place was given to the Vologda milkmaid from the Aurora agricultural production complex, Hero of Russia Nina Brusnikova, famous not only for her high milk yield from record-breaking cows, but also for the feat accomplished while saving a livestock complex from fire.
The party stands under the motto “Peace and bread for your home”; it is determined to revive the Russian village, from which the revival of all of Russia will begin. The main obstacle on this path is the import of foreign food products into Russia, which farmers call food aggression. They will fight this aggression from the State Duma rostrum if they manage to overcome the 7 percent barrier. The farmers believe that there are chances, since the party is backed by such forces as the Union of Gardeners, the All-Russian Women's Movement, organized fishermen, beekeepers, Cossacks and environmentalists!
The associates of former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov do not yet dream of Duma seats. Today their goal is another election, presidential. On Saturday, members and supporters of the People's Democratic Union arrived at the Berezki sanatorium near Moscow in order to establish a party with the same chairman and a new name: “People for Democracy and Justice,” which coincides with the old abbreviation. Of the 243 delegates to the congress who took part in the voting, 228 voted for the only candidate (the only alternative to the ex-prime minister was the “against all” candidate), four voted against. The counting commission declared 11 ballots invalid.
Mr. Kasyanov confirmed that he intends to participate in the Russian presidential elections: “There are opportunities to participate, moreover, there are opportunities to win. With your support, I am determined to join this fight. We are practically already doing this.” Documents for registration of the new batch will be submitted to the Federal Registration Service in early December.