Will Russia continue to be governed by a President? A strange question? But last week the proposal was made to abandon the Presidential post altogether in the long-term, and to transfer the main administrative powers to the State Council's Head. Vladimir Zhirinovsky is the author of the proposal. And this week he announced his candidacy for the Presidency. And we'll consider him one of the more experienced candidates, because he will run for the 6th time. This is, by the way, a European record. He ran for Presidency of RSFSR for the first time in 1991. He received 6,211,000 votes, and took 3rd place, which became a prologue to the permanent Parliamentary representation. He took the bronze medal again in 2008. And even during the other elections he was always in the top 5, being supported by millions of voters. He didn't always come out on top in the elections, but kept his party above the water, demonstrating political survival and success.
The interview with today's Zhirinovsky was given in front of a view towards the Kremlin.
- Hello Vladimir Volfovich.
- Good evening.
- Good evening. I must apologize to you. I smell like meat pies, I just ate them. And you, I know, are a vegetarian since 2013.
- I believe that it's necessary to get used to vegetarian food from childhood. Meat is a harmful product, we need to explain. Meat, is when an animal passed away, died is better, people pass away, and decay is in progress, and you use it for food. You can't do this. This is why our lifespan is half as much: 60 instead of 120 years.
- But will you be a carnivore in the Presidential campaign, in the political sense?
- Well, for this we need a powerful jolt, power, like a bull and not a flower. It requires harshness. The head of state should be an extremely strong-willed person. He shouldn't have pity. A plane is shot down? Shoot 10 down in response immediately! A fast and tough response.
- But you are contradicting yourself. You had a meeting with Putin, you proposed renaming him as ‘supreme ruler.’
- Yes.
- Replacing the anthem with "God Save the Tsar."
- Yes.
- And now you are going to replace Putin yourself?
- If we are participating in the elections, then we must have the desire to win them. The post should be called "the Supreme Ruler," and it shouldn't be won through an election. Or if elected then for 10 years, and one term. And elections should be conducted by the best people of the country, a gathering.
- Not a nationwide one?
- Of course not.
- Wait, that means that you don't trust the voters?
- What do you mean don't trust voters?! Do you understand that they need a hard line, the sacredness of government. It must be sacred, the country, the government, the state, the ruler, this is inviolable. But the representatives, mayors, governors, they should be used as you please. And even there, it's necessary to appoint most of them. Elections should only be for the representatives. Of course, the people can vote, and that's good, but what did the deputies of the Tsarist State Duma do? They destroyed the country. That’s "democracy" for you.
- We still have popular elections. I looked at your Presidential election figures. You did your best against Yeltsin. In 1991, you received almost 8%.
- Yes.
- And you did very well in the elections when Medvedev was elected President.
-Yes, 9%.
- But when you competed with Putin, it didn't go well. Moreover, in 2004 you chose not to run against Putin, but Malishkin.
- I didn't choose, but was asked by certain authorities. And that's all. Only for this reason. I've traveled the country 10 times over. I’ve been everywhere. I was even in Chechnya twice. I know the people. We developed best under authoritarian regimes. Monarchy. The rise of the Russian Empire. The Soviet Union also restored some of the borders. As the republic began, during the summer of 1917 everything unravelled. And under Gorbachev... When it's one, indivisible and centralized, then we'll have success.
- So when elected as a President, you'll abolish the democracy?
- No, please. I mean the execution of decrees and laws. For example, the new governor. Now they began to make changes. Why didn't they do it before? They got stuck, they are used to delays and they still use a pen to write. Thus, a new administration took its place. There's counterfeit vodka and we can't do anything, this is sad. We will destroy all the underground factories and arrest everyone. At the same time, I know that part of the citizenry wants cheap vodka. It is necessary to restore the state shops. 100 or 200 rubles, healthy normal vodka, let the people buy and drink it.
- Who will be your Prime Minister?
- PM? I can consider Ostrovsky's candidacy, the governor of the Smolensk region, he already has experience. I can also do with Kalashnikov, he was the Minister of Labor in the Primakov government.
- You will involve your party's members? There won't be a coalition government?
- No. My principle is this. The best people for the job. I had a question already on another program: do you want to keep Lavrov and Shoygu? I'll ask the commanding staff: Are you satisfied with Shoygu? Then we'll keep him. I'll ask the diplomats: Are you OK with Lavrov? We'll keep him. But new people will definitely join. I don't impose a party government. I say: select the good, capable experts. And I'm a supporter of having a non-partisan government, and a non-partisan President. In 30 years, the parties will exhaust themselves, they'll disappear, and trade unions too, there will be a digital democracy. They'll push buttons from their house and immediately everyone knows what law passes. Already now 70% use the Internet. And in 10-15 years the whole country will.
- You have already started listing your electoral slogans. By the way, I carefully read your program. -Here's 100! Take it. We are sitting opposite one of your "illustrations." According to your program, there will be no more burials in the mausoleum.
- Everything should be occupied. Don't touch Lenin. Everyone leaves for Mytishchi. We will build a large federal cemetery. And this is a place for the newlyweds, they will drive up, they will stroll along the wall, and get back into their cars. People are watching and this is a joyful day in their life.
- I read something in your program that I didn't like at all though. You want to restore the death penalty. There's no reason. But let’s not talk about this right now, and the second thing: you intend to have 2% loans, everyone likes it, I like this myself. Vladimir Volfovich, how do you plan to pull this off?
- First: I would forbid mortgages. Housing is inviolable. Immediately close these micro-finance businesses! 800%, 1000%, what is this?! They are all scammers! Arrest them all! We must strike crime hard. Definitely. Who is this Colonel Zakharchenko?! And 9 billion, without an owner! This is funny. Money is stashed in Moscow and investigators don't know whose they are, 9 billion! Quickly find it, confiscate everything, all into the treasury. Money must work for the economy, and not just lie around. So we confiscate everything from the corrupt people and put it into the economy. The money is there. If there is order in the country, a tough ruler, 10 budgets.
- The election campaign is just beginning. You also need to hold a convention to formally announce it.
- Definitely. The 31st convention on December 20 will confirm my candidacy, then the Central Election Commission will register me, I will travel to 30-40 cities on a train, on an airplane, and then the people will decide on March 18. They will go to work on March 19 with a smile, cheerful, optimistic that there will be a new leader and the country will be different. Or will go bored, and say 'we knew it, the same leader remained.' Choose yourself.
- Your son in the newspaper Vedomosti predicted that after God you will be first. So on December 19, is Zhirinovsky in the Kremlin or is Zhirinovsky in the Historical Museum as a record holder for running in the Presidential elections?
- I really am in the first place in Europe, Le Pen 5 times, and me 6. That's a side of it, maybe perseverance will affect the outcome. Where is everyone? They ran away. Prokhorov was here but not anymore, and will soon to be forgotten, just like everyone else. So I intend to win with persistence and become the Head of State.
- Vladimir Volfovich, good luck.
- We'll hope so.
- Thank you.
