Russia: Zyuganov Gains Momentum in Campaign 🇷🇺

(4 Mar 1996) Russian/Eng/Nat

The leader of Russia's Communist party and presidential hopeful Gennady Zyuganov has had a boost to his election campaign.

More than twenty left-wing parties and organisations announced on Monday that they're publicly backing his candidacy.

A broad range of leftist parties signed an agreement to found a new political movement to back Zyuganov for president in June elections.

He continues to lead opinion polls with around 18 per cent support from voters well ahead of his main rival, Boris Yeltsin who has only 8 to 9 per cent.

However Yeltsin's campaign has been gathering strength recently as more and more of the former democratic opposition declare their support for him.

The Agrarians, several small hard-line Communist parties, as well as a party representing war veterans and the disabled, are among the founders of the People's Patriotic Bloc.

The creation of the bloc cements pledges of support made by the member groups after Zyuganov was formally nominated last month by the Communist Party as its candidate for the Russian presidency.

Among those throwing their support behind Zyuganov is Nikolai Ryzhkov, prime minister during the Gorbachev era.

SOUNDBITE: (in Russian)

The formation of the People's Patriotic Forces Bloc is in support of our common candidate Gennnady Zyuganov"
SUPER CAPTION: Nikolai Ryzhkov, former Soviet prime minister

The left's ability to unite gives it a powerful advantage over reformers, who are bitterly divided and have been unable so far to agree on supporting one candidate.

The Communists are vague about how they would fight unemployment and restore the Soviet-era social system of job security, pensions and free medical care.

SOUNDBITE: (in Russian)

"Having formed a coalition, the main thing is to start work on an election headquarters and get a group of experts to work out a common platform"
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, Communist leader

Zyuganov has called for a revision of Yeltsin's ambitious privatisation programme.

It has put huge chunks of state property into private hands - but also created a class of wealthy businessmen who are widely despised by workers.

But there was one voice of dissent.

The hardline Marxist "Working Russia" party led by Viktor Anpilov refused to sign up.

It is concerned that Zyuganov is not radical enough on re-nationalising property and rebuilding the Soviet Union.

SOUNDBITE:( in English)

I'm going to support the restoration of Soviet power. I'm going to support the voluntary restoration of the Soviet Union and struggle for the property of my people (Q. Can
Zyuganov do that?) I don't know"
SUPER CAPTION: Viktor Anpilov, Marxist leader

Zyuganov also announced that details of the Communist campaign platform will be published later this month.

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