Presidential candidates discussed future victories and past defeats in televised debates

Presidential candidates from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party and the New People took part in televised debates for the first time on Wednesday. On the air of “Russia 1” they discussed the prospects for a special operation in Ukraine, the development of new regions and working with their residents. The goal – achieving peace on Russia’s terms – united the party members, but the means of achieving it sparked discussion.

According to the debate rules, the participants were asked three questions, given four minutes to answer and then two minutes to summarize. First of all, the presenter asked about their vision of the prospects for a special military operation (SVO).

In essence, the candidates were unanimous, and the differences were already revealed by the usual nuances.

Thus, Nikolai Kharitonov (KPRF), who spoke first, said that the only prospect for today is “the complete defeat of Ukraine, forced surrender” and negotiations “on our terms.” According to him, “the whole country” and “the whole working class” are now working to achieve these goals.

“They said “complete surrender,” but, in my opinion, we need to talk about how to achieve a sustainable, real peace,” clarified Vladislav Davankov (“New People”). And he admitted that he had not met people who would say that “there must be complete surrender, that we need to reach Warsaw” or “incinerate the world into nuclear ashes”: “It is not clear why my generation should pay for the mistakes of the previous ones… The USSR would not have collapsed “If it weren’t for what is happening today, it simply wouldn’t exist!” He also stressed the need to “come to the negotiating table”, but stipulated that peace must be “achieved on our terms”: “It is important that we do not leave this conflict to our children and grandchildren.”

The goal declared by the LDPR, as indicated by its candidate Leonid Slutsky, is “to complete the Northern Military District this year.” “Russia did not start the war, but Russia will finish it, and we have such capabilities!” – he proclaimed, focusing on the need to stop the supply of Western weapons and continue to fully support the fighters on the front line. “Every day they join the LDPR, they join en masse, and this is a great honor and responsibility for us: we must support them with everything possible and impossible,” added the liberal democrat.

Support for fighters, legal and economic integration of new regions and restoration of their infrastructure also became common themes in the candidates’ speeches, although with some exceptions. For example, where Messrs. Kharitonov and Slutsky focused on the need for direct contact with residents of new regions (the LDPR leader demonstrated remarkable knowledge of their geography), Mr. Davankov preferred to generalize the agenda and identify problems that require solutions throughout the country.

The reason for a specific discussion was perhaps previous political merits and specific means of achieving military superiority and post-war well-being.

“I would like to remind my colleague Slutsky that he, as a young deputy, does not remember the time when the LDPR spoke and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation worked,” said, for example, Nikolai Kharitonov, who recalled the work of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation “in Feodosia in 2006” (about the details he, True, he kept silent) and the recognition by the Duma, on the initiative of the Communist Party, of the independence of the DPR and LPR in February 2022. “I have the deepest respect for you,” retorted Leonid Slutsky. “But let’s move away from empty picking, it looks pathetic!” I want to say that compared to you, Nikolai Mikhailovich, everyone is young, and there is nothing to measure against.”

The budget, which the Communist Party of the Russian Federation traditionally does not support, was again mentioned – this time in the context of the words of its candidate, who approved the pace of recovery in new regions. “You yourself voted against this budget,” Vladislav Davankov reproached him, contrasting this with the New People’s desire for “constructive work” with the government. “The Communist Party faction does not vote against the budget, it votes against the mechanism for filling it!” – Nikolai Kharitonov fought back, steering the discussion towards support for his faction’s bill on war children. “We played at capitalism – that’s enough, we must immediately return to socialism!” — the candidate summed up as usual.

“Yes, I don’t agree with this, I would say differently: we played at communism and that’s enough!” – Vladislav Davankov unexpectedly reacted heatedly and, taking no time in his own final words, recalled the Communist Party’s past “merits.” “We have already seen empty shelves, we have seen what the policies of the Communist Party lead to: the fact that the country has disintegrated, that we have a military conflict!” – the politician raged. In his opinion, “both the children and grandchildren of the war” should live with dignity, and Russia needs to emerge from the Northern Military District “stronger” and “technologically advanced.”

“Now is not the time to draw dividing lines in the space of our society, we need to be shoulder to shoulder: everything for the front and everything for victory!” — Leonid Slutsky called on his colleagues to reach a consensus. He invited the children of the war to party reception rooms, and about the SVO he repeated that it “must be completed this year.” “Soon, God willing, we will win this holy and noble special military operation. Let’s be with the people!” – summed up the liberal democrat.

Grigory Leiba