Candidate for mayor of Moscow Leonid Zyuganov explained why he does not go to TV debates

Moscow mayoral candidate from the Communist Party, grandson of the leader of the Communist Party and Moscow City Duma deputy Leonid Zyuganov criticized the format of the city television debates at a meeting with journalists on Tuesday. He explained that he did not want to participate in them, because he sees no point in competing in populism with other opposition candidates, while there are questions for the current government, but its representative does not go to debates. According to Mr. Zyuganov, instead of broadcasting during working hours on unpopular channels, it is much more efficient to hold meetings with voters and then “disperse” these videos through bloggers and social networks. The expert, however, doubts the sincerity of the communist and believes that he is simply afraid to debate with more experienced politicians and hopes that the voter will vote for the surname.

One of the first questions that journalists asked at yesterday’s meeting with Leonid Zyuganov was about a televised debate, where he has never appeared. Recall that a series of debates started on August 14, they are aired daily from Monday to Thursday on the Moscow Trust and Moscow 24 channels. Although five candidates are running for the post of mayor – the current mayor Sergei Sobyanin (United Russia), Moscow City Duma deputy Leonid Zyuganov (KPRF), State Duma vice-speakers Boris Chernyshov (LDPR) and Vladislav Davankov (New People), as well as a State Duma deputy Dmitry Gusev (“A Just Russia – For the Truth”) – only the last three participate in the debate. The press service of Mr. Zyuganov previously explained his absence by a busy schedule of meetings with voters. Non-participation in the debate of Mr. Sobyanin, the sources of “Kommersant” in the mayor’s office do not comment.

“Firstly, our grid of electoral events appeared not a week or two weeks ago, but in mid-June. We learned about the date of the debate a week in advance,” Leonid Zyuganov began his answer. “How are these debates going? The current mayor is levitating somewhere above the fight, and you are there, let’s discuss something in your sandbox. But our main questions, of course, are for the current government.” To exercise in populism – who will offer more free initiatives – the candidate from the Communist Party considers unnecessary and uninteresting.

In addition, he is sure that no one watches the Moscow Trust TV channel, especially during working hours (the debate starts at 16:10). A communist might have gone to the broadcasts on Moscow 24, but not in this format. “Some sausages are handed out, the second – free travel. Excuse me, even our party does not allow itself such populism!” Mr. Zyuganov was indignant. But the main reason for non-participation in the debates, Leonid Zyuganov stressed, is the absence of his main opponent, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, or his representative.

“It is very important for us to discuss with the United Russia candidates,” Yuri Afonin, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, State Duma deputy, supported the comrade, who was present at the meeting, “to show what is being done wrong and what the Communist Party is ready to implement. When there is no United Russia representative, it is much more flawed to discuss.” He assured that the Communists are always ready to discuss one on one with their main opponents.

Mr. Afonin’s position immediately gave rise to a clarification question from journalists: why shouldn’t candidate Zyuganov challenge candidate Sobyanin to a one-on-one debate? Leonid Zyuganov replied that he did not object to such an idea, but such a statement would be of a “hype” nature, since the mayor, in his opinion, would not come to these debates. Therefore, the emphasis in his pre-election work, the communist makes on the Internet resources. As Mr. Zyuganov explained, if you “disperse” a video from a meeting with voters through bloggers and social networks, it can gain 300-400 thousand views: “This is much more effective than debating with colleagues who first vote for raising the retirement age, for raising VAT up to 20%, and then unexpected initiatives suddenly appear – let’s do everything for free.

Political consultant Yevgeny Minchenko believes that, citing such arguments in favor of non-participation in the debate, the candidate from the Communist Party is disingenuous: “Firstly, it would be strange if Sergei Sobyanin went to the debate, given his tremendous lead in the rating from other candidates. The same thing is being done by Donald Trump in the Republican primaries in the United States, ”says the expert. Secondly, even if the broadcasts go on during working hours, the coverage is still greater, because the episodes can be viewed on the Internet, he notes: the most convenient time, however, has become a significant factor, and people watch them as a series and after live broadcasts. The main reasons for Leonid Zyuganov’s refusal to debate are different, Mr. Minchenko is sure: “The first is the hope that voters on the ballots will respond to the surname without going into details. And second, he is simply afraid to debate with stronger and more experienced politicians.”

Elena Rozhkova