Revolution Hero
20th November 2003, 23:13
20.11.2003
BBC Monitoring
BBC Monitoring
Russian election debate: Communists, Holy Rus and People's Republican Party
Source: RTR Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1600 gmt 17 Nov 03
Taking part in Russia TV's 60-minute election debate on 17 November are Sergey Popov from For the Holy Rus, Yevgeniy Cherepanov from the People's Republican Party and Gennadiy Zyuganov from the Communist Party.
Zyuganov and Cherepanov have brought with them teams of party members to help them.
The programme is hosted by Ernest Machkyavichyus.
Opening statements
The participants are given one minute each to present their party.
Popov says the task of his party, For the Holy Rus, is to remind people of God's commandments. He then recounts them.
Cherepanov, member of the political council of the People's Republican Party, explains the party's ideology - "the Russian classical ideology,which in modern terms can be summed up into three main concepts - statehood, Christianity and national identity".
Zyuganov notes that One Russia rejected his invitation to hold open debates, "having hidden behind Putin's back". "The past four years have been wasted for Russia: while four regions froze in winter four years ago, almost 30 regions with the population of 17m people are freezing now," he says. He criticizes One Russia for voting for laws which allow sale of
land and the breaking up of natural monopolies. He once more invites One Russia to an open debate on TV.
The participants then answer questions from TV viewers.
When asked whether his party is nationalist or internationalist, Popov says that people's nationality does not matter for his party as long as they are Christian. Asked by a viewer whether his party would persecute people from other confessions, Popov says that his party would only persecute sects.
Cherepanov comments on his party's proposal to introduce state monopoly on sale of alcohol. He says this would provide an additional source of income for the budget but his party does not feel particularly passionate about this issue.
In an answer to a question, Zyuganov denies accusations of corruption against Communist Viktor Vidmanov, head of the Rosagropromstroy company.
"The party of power does not need construction organizations," says Zyuganov, adding that One Russia leads a campaign against Viktor Vidmanov because "he is an honest person".
Zyuganov denies allegations that his party is moving towards the right and dismisses comparisons between his party and the Union of Right Forces. He says One Russia and the Union of Right Forces are spending millions on election posters while the Communists are trying to save money.
For Holy Rus on death penalty, censorship, homosexuality
The participants are given the chance to put questions to their rivals. Popov is the first to be questioned.
Cherepanov asks Popov about his party's stand on death penalty and the lifting of the moratorium on death penalty. Popov says that death may be a sinner's last chance to repent. He says his party would push for the lifting on death penalty.
Actress Yelena Drapeko from Zyuganov's team asks Popov whether it is fair that the Party of Power votes for reducing and abolishing social benefits.
Popov says social benefits must be increased.
Cherepanov asks Popov's opinion on introducing public censorship on TV over erotic scenes. Popov says homosexuality is a grave sin and his party is for control over the mass media because the mass media has influence over people's souls.
Nikolay Kolomeytsev, Communist Party member, accuses One Russia of lying to voters and asks whether it can lead Russia out of the crisis. Popov says he cannot judge other people's motives and refers the question to God.
Yevgeniy Sabashnikov, deputy head of the People's Republican Party,asks Popov what God will think of his party if it fails to get into the Duma.
Popov says it is already good that people are hearing about the commandments during his party's election campaign. He says Orthodox bishops have blessed his party's election bid.
People's Republican Party noncommittal on privatization review
Cherepanov is next to be questioned. He says, in response to a question from For the Holy Rus, that his party will welcome the presence of chaplains in the army. They would do a lot of good, especially in far-away
places, he says. He speaks in favour of priests working in schools, hospitals and prisons.
Ilya Melnikov, deputy chairman of the Communist Party Central Committee, asks whether the People's Republican Party, which does not say anything about housing in its programme, would support the Communists' promise of limiting housing rent to only 10 per cent of the family's income or One
Russia's policy which envisages tenants paying 100 per cent of rent and utilities. Cherepanov says the CPRF's position is closer to his party.
"People should by no means pay for the sins of Yeltsin's government accumulated over 10 years," he says.
When asked by Popov whether his party would outlaw abortions, Cherepanov says: "Yes, we would. Like you, we are Christians and abortion is murder".
Oleg Kulikov, secretary of the CPRF Central Committee, asks Cherepanov about his party's view on the results of the privatization and whether it would promote, like Communists, a review of the privatization. "Do you agree with the pledge by One Russia's leader not to review privatization?"
he asks. Cherepanov says that not everybody gained property illegally and calls for a differentiated approach to the problem. In one-third of cases there was corruption and those cases should be reviewed, he says.
Kolomeytsev says that One Russia is fulfilling Gaydar's programme of abolishing free education, health care and housing. Do you agree with the Communists who are proposing to calculate minimum wage in accordance with subsistence level. Cherepanov says that before promising increases his
party would recommend to make sure there is enough money in the budget for that.
To a question from Popov on criminal responsibility for homosexuality, Cherepanov says his party would vote for re-instating criminal responsibility for male homosexuality.
Communist Yelena Drapeko says One Russia MPs voted for soldiers' allowances to be less than those of prisoners. "Would you vote for such a position?" she asks. No, Cherepanov answers.
Zyuganov waxes lyrical over Soviet times
Questions are then put to Zyuganov. Why did not Communists agree with Motherland bloc leader Sergey Glazyev to merge into one movement?
Zyuganov says his party did merge with many movements but Glazyev, having consulted Putin, decided to form a different bloc.
When asked by Popov on whether the Communists would ban abortions, Zyuganov says alcoholism and crime are killing almost 1m people a year in Russia and the Russian nation is dying out at the fastest rate in the world. However, he says, conditions must be created for women to have at least three children. "I am for women to have a choice but the right conditions should be created for them to have children," he says.
At various points in the debate Zyuganov praises the Soviet Union, says Russia was truly great during the Soviet times and breakthroughs in science were achieved then. He says that the Communist ideas were betrayed later on and that is why the Soviet Union collapsed.
Zyuganov defends the inclusion of Nikolay Kondratenko at the top of his party's election list. Kondratenko is the most prominent governor. He understands Russian people and has a good programme for restoring the economy, he says to a question in which Kondratenko is described as a
Russian nationalist.
To Popov's question on regimental chaplains in the army, Zyuganov says: "I am for freedom of faith in the army but against religion being forced on servicemen."
Viewers grill Zyuganov
The moderator then reads out questions from TV viewers. He says Zyuganov has received the biggest number of questions. Zyuganov says he has been trying to persuade Russia TV for a whole year to give him a chance to answer viewers' questions.
One of the questions alleges that there are 21 oligarchs in the CPRF.
"We have no oligarchs in the party, just very good specialists," says Zyuganov
and lists names and areas of expertise of alleged oligarchs.
When asked about his drinking habits, Zyuganov says: "I drink more than Gorbachev but five times less than Yeltsin."
When all the participants were asked about spring crops, Zyuganov was the only one who came up with a competent answer.
In the final part of the programme the three participants are asked to sum up the main points of their party's programmes.
Zyuganov says his party's number is 23 on the voting bulletin. "We are the last in the list and the people's last hope," he notes. If you vote for One Russia, life in Russia will get even worse, he warns the voters.
Popov and Cherepanov repeat their opening statements
BBC Monitoring
BBC Monitoring
Russian election debate: Communists, Holy Rus and People's Republican Party
Source: RTR Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1600 gmt 17 Nov 03
Taking part in Russia TV's 60-minute election debate on 17 November are Sergey Popov from For the Holy Rus, Yevgeniy Cherepanov from the People's Republican Party and Gennadiy Zyuganov from the Communist Party.
Zyuganov and Cherepanov have brought with them teams of party members to help them.
The programme is hosted by Ernest Machkyavichyus.
Opening statements
The participants are given one minute each to present their party.
Popov says the task of his party, For the Holy Rus, is to remind people of God's commandments. He then recounts them.
Cherepanov, member of the political council of the People's Republican Party, explains the party's ideology - "the Russian classical ideology,which in modern terms can be summed up into three main concepts - statehood, Christianity and national identity".
Zyuganov notes that One Russia rejected his invitation to hold open debates, "having hidden behind Putin's back". "The past four years have been wasted for Russia: while four regions froze in winter four years ago, almost 30 regions with the population of 17m people are freezing now," he says. He criticizes One Russia for voting for laws which allow sale of
land and the breaking up of natural monopolies. He once more invites One Russia to an open debate on TV.
The participants then answer questions from TV viewers.
When asked whether his party is nationalist or internationalist, Popov says that people's nationality does not matter for his party as long as they are Christian. Asked by a viewer whether his party would persecute people from other confessions, Popov says that his party would only persecute sects.
Cherepanov comments on his party's proposal to introduce state monopoly on sale of alcohol. He says this would provide an additional source of income for the budget but his party does not feel particularly passionate about this issue.
In an answer to a question, Zyuganov denies accusations of corruption against Communist Viktor Vidmanov, head of the Rosagropromstroy company.
"The party of power does not need construction organizations," says Zyuganov, adding that One Russia leads a campaign against Viktor Vidmanov because "he is an honest person".
Zyuganov denies allegations that his party is moving towards the right and dismisses comparisons between his party and the Union of Right Forces. He says One Russia and the Union of Right Forces are spending millions on election posters while the Communists are trying to save money.
For Holy Rus on death penalty, censorship, homosexuality
The participants are given the chance to put questions to their rivals. Popov is the first to be questioned.
Cherepanov asks Popov about his party's stand on death penalty and the lifting of the moratorium on death penalty. Popov says that death may be a sinner's last chance to repent. He says his party would push for the lifting on death penalty.
Actress Yelena Drapeko from Zyuganov's team asks Popov whether it is fair that the Party of Power votes for reducing and abolishing social benefits.
Popov says social benefits must be increased.
Cherepanov asks Popov's opinion on introducing public censorship on TV over erotic scenes. Popov says homosexuality is a grave sin and his party is for control over the mass media because the mass media has influence over people's souls.
Nikolay Kolomeytsev, Communist Party member, accuses One Russia of lying to voters and asks whether it can lead Russia out of the crisis. Popov says he cannot judge other people's motives and refers the question to God.
Yevgeniy Sabashnikov, deputy head of the People's Republican Party,asks Popov what God will think of his party if it fails to get into the Duma.
Popov says it is already good that people are hearing about the commandments during his party's election campaign. He says Orthodox bishops have blessed his party's election bid.
People's Republican Party noncommittal on privatization review
Cherepanov is next to be questioned. He says, in response to a question from For the Holy Rus, that his party will welcome the presence of chaplains in the army. They would do a lot of good, especially in far-away
places, he says. He speaks in favour of priests working in schools, hospitals and prisons.
Ilya Melnikov, deputy chairman of the Communist Party Central Committee, asks whether the People's Republican Party, which does not say anything about housing in its programme, would support the Communists' promise of limiting housing rent to only 10 per cent of the family's income or One
Russia's policy which envisages tenants paying 100 per cent of rent and utilities. Cherepanov says the CPRF's position is closer to his party.
"People should by no means pay for the sins of Yeltsin's government accumulated over 10 years," he says.
When asked by Popov whether his party would outlaw abortions, Cherepanov says: "Yes, we would. Like you, we are Christians and abortion is murder".
Oleg Kulikov, secretary of the CPRF Central Committee, asks Cherepanov about his party's view on the results of the privatization and whether it would promote, like Communists, a review of the privatization. "Do you agree with the pledge by One Russia's leader not to review privatization?"
he asks. Cherepanov says that not everybody gained property illegally and calls for a differentiated approach to the problem. In one-third of cases there was corruption and those cases should be reviewed, he says.
Kolomeytsev says that One Russia is fulfilling Gaydar's programme of abolishing free education, health care and housing. Do you agree with the Communists who are proposing to calculate minimum wage in accordance with subsistence level. Cherepanov says that before promising increases his
party would recommend to make sure there is enough money in the budget for that.
To a question from Popov on criminal responsibility for homosexuality, Cherepanov says his party would vote for re-instating criminal responsibility for male homosexuality.
Communist Yelena Drapeko says One Russia MPs voted for soldiers' allowances to be less than those of prisoners. "Would you vote for such a position?" she asks. No, Cherepanov answers.
Zyuganov waxes lyrical over Soviet times
Questions are then put to Zyuganov. Why did not Communists agree with Motherland bloc leader Sergey Glazyev to merge into one movement?
Zyuganov says his party did merge with many movements but Glazyev, having consulted Putin, decided to form a different bloc.
When asked by Popov on whether the Communists would ban abortions, Zyuganov says alcoholism and crime are killing almost 1m people a year in Russia and the Russian nation is dying out at the fastest rate in the world. However, he says, conditions must be created for women to have at least three children. "I am for women to have a choice but the right conditions should be created for them to have children," he says.
At various points in the debate Zyuganov praises the Soviet Union, says Russia was truly great during the Soviet times and breakthroughs in science were achieved then. He says that the Communist ideas were betrayed later on and that is why the Soviet Union collapsed.
Zyuganov defends the inclusion of Nikolay Kondratenko at the top of his party's election list. Kondratenko is the most prominent governor. He understands Russian people and has a good programme for restoring the economy, he says to a question in which Kondratenko is described as a
Russian nationalist.
To Popov's question on regimental chaplains in the army, Zyuganov says: "I am for freedom of faith in the army but against religion being forced on servicemen."
Viewers grill Zyuganov
The moderator then reads out questions from TV viewers. He says Zyuganov has received the biggest number of questions. Zyuganov says he has been trying to persuade Russia TV for a whole year to give him a chance to answer viewers' questions.
One of the questions alleges that there are 21 oligarchs in the CPRF.
"We have no oligarchs in the party, just very good specialists," says Zyuganov
and lists names and areas of expertise of alleged oligarchs.
When asked about his drinking habits, Zyuganov says: "I drink more than Gorbachev but five times less than Yeltsin."
When all the participants were asked about spring crops, Zyuganov was the only one who came up with a competent answer.
In the final part of the programme the three participants are asked to sum up the main points of their party's programmes.
Zyuganov says his party's number is 23 on the voting bulletin. "We are the last in the list and the people's last hope," he notes. If you vote for One Russia, life in Russia will get even worse, he warns the voters.
Popov and Cherepanov repeat their opening statements