RUSSIA: Russian communists nominate Gennady Zyuganov as their presidential candidate

Record ID: 575159

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian communists nominate Gennady Zyuganov as their presidential candidate
  • Date: 16th December 2007
  • Summary: (EU) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 15, 2007) (REUTERS) GENNADY ZYUGANOV, RUSSIA'S COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER, ADDRESSING PARTY CONGRESS LENIN'S BUST ON STAGE COMMUNISTS VOTING WITH THEIR RED PARTY MANDATES TO OPEN PARTY CONGRESS PARTY MEMBER NOMINATING GENNADY ZYUGANOV AS CANDIDATE FOR THE MARCH 2 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS PARTY MEMBERS APPLAUDING
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACFMHYT49YRO4H52ZRUVBKQ4HL
  • Story Text: Russian communists nominate Gennady Zyuganov as their presidential candidate in upcoming elections against President Vladimir Putin's preferred successor.
    Russia's opposition Communist Party on Saturday (December 15) nominated leader Gennady Zyuganov to run for president next March where he faces a daunting challenge against President Vladimir Putin's preferred successor.
    Putin has endorsed a leadership bid by First Deputy Premier Dmitry Medvedev, but Zyuganov said he would have a good chance if no candidate wins an outright majority at the first attempt.
    The Communists are the largest opposition party in the newly elected State Duma, or lower house of parliament, but they polled just 12 percent of votes, compared to 64 percent for Putin's United Russia party.
    Putin, who says he wants to ensure the "stability and continuity" of his 8-year rule and is hugely popular while incomes are rising amid an oil-fuelled boom, has called the parliamentary election a vote of confidence in himself.
    Zyuganov took the late Boris Yeltsin to a second round in a presidential election in 1996 but was roundly beaten by Putin four years later. He did not run against an increasingly popular Putin in 2004.
    Zyuganov, who has criticised the parliamentary election as the dirtiest on record, said he reckoned the Communists enjoyed the support of at least one-third of voters.
    Zyuganov said support for his party was solid and that leftist ideas are embracing practically the whole planet today and especially in Russia where they always traditionally prevailed.
    Upbeat and bellicose, Zyuganov said Yeltsin and Putin had both shirked in the past his proposal to hold public debates.

    "Neither Yeltsin no Putin had open debates with us, though I have invited them to participate in a state television two hour talk show and answer the questions our audience usually asks us. We think that would be interesting for everyone. I officially invite United Russia's new presidential candidate to such a dialogue," Zyuganov said.
    The Communist Party's central committee approved Zyuganov's candidacy on Friday and it was rubber-stamped by congress on Saturday.
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