SRZP supported the nomination of Vladimir Putin for presidential elections

The XIII Congress of the party “A Just Russia – For Truth” (SRZP) on Saturday supported the candidacy of Vladimir Putin in the 2024 Russian presidential elections. The delegates expressed confidence that at a “decisive moment for the country,” a political discussion around the candidacy of the head of state in the presence of a strong incumbent president is simply inappropriate. At the same time, their party, as the Right Russia members themselves assure, remains in opposition to the current government on many other, less significant issues.

The main highlight of the congress – apart from the rollicking patriotic song performed by the Cossack ensemble at the finale – was definitely the thematic photo zone: near the stand with propaganda literature, the organizers placed plastic figures of President Vladimir Putin and SRZP Chairman Sergei Mironov.

The party’s decision to support the nomination of the current president for another term in a conversation with a Kommersant correspondent was warmly approved by all the attending delegates (of the key figures, only SRZP co-chairman Zakhar Prilepin missed the event). Vladimir Putin sent a warm telegram to the congress: “I will especially note your desire to work for the unity of society, the consolidation of all patriotic forces to successfully solve the key tasks of Russia’s development,” the head of state wrote, among other things. “Today, in the face of serious challenges, this is extremely important.” The President wished the Social Revolutionaries “fruitful work” and expressed “sincere gratitude for their support.”

The official part of the congress began with the recitation of the letter by Sergei Mironov. Already in his report, he indicated that the party had received “thousands of letters” approving the decision to support the current head of state (on December 17, a similar decision was made by the United Russia congress), and prepared its own proposals for his program, uniting them under the heading “The well-being of people is strength Russian state.” In its current form, the list contains 14 chapters with a predominantly social focus: from support for military personnel to a progressive tax scale.

“Various speculations about the fact that, by supporting Vladimir Putin, the party admitted its political impotence, have nothing to do with reality,” said Mr. Mironov, explaining that such a step was “dictated by the international situation and the state of affairs within the country.” Now, the politician is sure, the country needs an “experienced and strong leader” who has proven his ability to take a blow and is aware of his responsibility for the fate of his homeland. “We are confident in our choice,” declared the leader of the Socialist Revolutionaries.

The party members themselves, according to Sergei Mironov, should also not sit idly by: “Why not instruct our party to collect signatures (in support of Vladimir Putin.—“Kommersant”) in regions where the governors are from the Liberal Democratic Party and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation? The key task of the SRZP is to “work on turnout,” which should serve as a response to sanctions, Russophobia and attempts to “erase Russia from history and culture,” Mr. Mironov concluded.

Right Russia members voted unanimously to support Vladimir Putin’s candidacy. Throughout the rest of the congress, the top party officials from the rostrum argued for this step.

“We have worthy people, but we have risen above our party and political interests,” pointed out, for example, co-chairman of the SRZP Gennady Semigin. “His (Vladimir Putin.— “Kommersant”) following one’s own position makes one respect him and our country!” – emphasized Vice Speaker of the State Duma Alexander Babakov. From his words it followed that if there is an agreement with Vladimir Putin on something, then there is no doubt about it, which, as Mr. Babakov explained, is by no means “typical of the collective West today.”

Then the party members began to present their ideas regarding the future of the country, which were not always similar to the strategy of the current government. “It’s time to explain conceptually and clearly for our country that there is no opposition between the market and the plan, that these are two parts of one whole,” advised, for example, the same Mr. Babakov. “Professionals from our party can work at a high level and with high-quality results in the executive system of power, which, I am convinced, will be reformatted,” Mr. Semigin hinted.

The position of the party members expressed on the eve of the elections will most likely not have any impact on the existing political, legislative and public work of the SRZP, the Socialist Revolutionaries themselves believe.

Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Economic Policy Mikhail Delyagin told a Kommersant correspondent that he does not foresee “any dramatic changes” in parliamentary work in connection with the decision of the congress: “On social and economic issues we have a tough position, but on issues of foreign policy and defense we are quite in solidarity (with the majority party.— “Kommersant”). No, the contours of parliamentary work will remain the same.” “This will not change work in the regions in any way, either for the better or for the worse,” says First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education Yana Lantratova. She reminded Kommersant that even before the decision of the congress, “everyone knew perfectly well that we support the president”: “When we talk about victory, it doesn’t matter which party you represent.”

“We remain an opposition, but a constructive opposition,” Dmitry Gusev, secretary of the presidium of the Central Council of the SRZP for political issues, assured Kommersant. Discussions between parties in this context still take place, but not on issues critical to statehood, and the SRZP does not renounce its own political subjectivity, the politician is sure: “We made a choice – this is a manifestation of our will: we believe that at this time there is no need to organize a political struggle here.” “We understand that other parties are fighting not for victory, but to prove themselves,” explained Spravoross. “But we don’t want to mislead people.” The task of the SRZP in this regard is to help ensure the president a good result, so that “no one in the world has any doubts about the integrity of the country,” and “everything else is secondary,” Mr. Gusev emphasized, although he made a reservation that the party is still aimed at to “be heard” by the executive branch. Dmitry Gusev did not discuss how the decision of the congress would affect party ratings “locally”: “Now we will finish the presidential elections, win and after that we will engage in regional campaigns.”

Grigory Leiba