10 November 2003 00:25
Russian elections: Rus, Unification and People`s parties in debate on Mayak
In an Election 2003 debate broadcast on Mayak at 1310 gmt on 10 November and presented by Yelena Shchedrunova the
following parties took part: the Unification Concept Party, represented by Konstantin Petrov; the Rus party, represented
by Valeriy Burkov; and People's Party of the Russian federation, represented by Aleksandr Perepelkin.
Presenting his party, Konstantin Petrov said that its theoretical platform was based on a concept of social security,
called the Dead Water. The concept presupposes "changing the Western concept of Russian government for our
own"; making authorities responsible for their work; sacking corrupt officials and replacing them with honest
people; establishing a zero-per-cent interest rate to stimulate growth of medium and small business; banning the dollar
as legal tender in Russia; establishing a fixed electricity rate. The name of the concept, the Dead Water, is a
reference to Russian fairy tales in which it was used to make the cut-off body parts of dead warriors to grow back
together. The Unification party suggests uniting the broken off parts of Russia and the USSR.
Valeriy Burkov said that the emphasis of his party's programme was on building a future for Russia in which its
citizens will be proud to be Russian. He dwelt on how important it is for Russian people to feel that they are living in
a great country.
Aleksandr Perepelkin stressed that his party is concerned with the fate of Russian regions. He quoted the example of
the Reshetnev production association, which recovered after decline.
The first subject offered for discussion was "How many parties does Russia need?"
Petrov's argument in favour of just one ideology and one party is that currently parties look after very
specific groups of the population and are ineffective. The said that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was based
on the wrong concept and therefore led the country to collapse. He said Maxism-Leninism opposed the spirituality of the
Russian Orthodox Church at that time. He said that "the country cannot afford more than one country".
Burkov believes that Petrov's concept will lead Russia nowhere. He spoke for a multiparty system. He said that
with the development of democracy in Russia the number of parties will reduce to just three-four.
Perepelkin said his party opposed the one-party system. However, the current number of parties in Russia, standing at
26, is "just too many". The people will decide at the elections which party will continue to live and which
will die, he said.
When asked by a listener why his party is not merging with the Communist Party of Sergey Glazyev's party, Petrov
said that those parties are based on different platforms.
Burkov invited other parties to join the Rus party. He said that merging is the way for parties to go. The
People's Party is close in its aims to the Rus party, Burkov noted.
Perepelkin said that his party was open to suggestions of merger from other parties with similar platforms.
In response to a question from a listener, Perepelkin said that his party's aim was to restore people's
trust towards politicians. He called on other participants to become involved in taking faith to people.
Petrov suggested the Russian authorities should teach the Koran to the Chechens, who are now living according to
tribal laws and not according to Islam.
Burkov did not like Petrov's choice of words on Chechnya. He said that his party is for "enlightening"
Chechnya and not for "teaching" it.
Perepelkin quoted the People's Party's member Gen Troshev, who said that the Russian army is not fighting
Chechen people, it is fighting international terrorism. He said before teaching Chechnya, one should help it with
specific actions.
The three tried to formulate how they imagined Russia in future and the tasks that needed to be solved today.
The debate lasted approximately 47 minutes.
[Radio Mayak] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
