Zyuganov Wraps Up Campaign in Russia 🇷🇺

(16 Dec 1995) Russian/Eng/Nat

Russia's Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov has finished a gruelling final week of campaigning for Sunday's parliamentary elections.

He is the man the opinion polls say will return the highest number of votes.

If his party wins enough power in the Duma, Zyuganovt says he'll roll back many of Boris Yeltsin's free market and democratic reforms.

Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Russian Communist Party, is winding up a punishing campaign schedule.

On Friday (Dec 15) he met with international observers in an effort to convince them they have no reason to fear a Communist victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

But he did warn them the party's strength was such that the West would have to deal with the Communists even if they didn't like it.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We have representatives everywhere throughout the country, in all social spheres. You will have to enter into a dialogue with us even if you don't like it."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, Russian Communist Party leader

In Russia's industrial heartland, Zyuganov has been pushing the message of nostalgia for a settled past, but it is clear there are many who fear what a return to communism would mean internationally.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The Russian people, it's their choice, choose the Communist Party again and we start the previous system - relationships between you and Western Europe will be very difficult"
SUPER CAPTION: Pierre Lipkovsky, head of French delegation, MEP

In the larger cities Zyuganov has been cultivating the image not of a hardliner but of a reasonable and amiable social-democrat.

He appeared this week in a live TV debate with actor and director Nikita Mikhalkov who is a candidate for Prime Minister Chernomyrdin's "Our Home is Russia" party.

Zyuganov says the revived Communists are standing for democracy and encouraging private business, but the party does want to keep land and major industry in state hands.

It is also calling for the restoration of the Soviet Union.

After the television debate Zyuganov insisted that he was first and foremost a communist.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I am not only a Communist, I am the leader of the Communist Party and the Communist bloc and we have a lot of comrades and friends."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, Russian Communist Party leader

Zyuganov's main support lies in Russia's industrial towns and villages which have suffered more than most from four years of economic reform.

At the polling station where Zyuganov and his family will cast their votes there are definite reminders of the Soviet-era.

Lenin was getting a last-minute lick of paint as the ballot boxes were being delivered and a final check was made on the station's prestigious list of voters, which will include Boris Yeltsin if he is well enough.

If the Communists win enough votes in Sunday's poll they plan to block government initiatives and set the tone for the more important presidential elections, which follow in June.

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