And Then There Were 8: Ksenia Sobchak and Maxim Suraykin Join the Final Presidential Ballot
And now the headlines as we continue. Now about the pre-election campaign news.
Today, the Central Election Commission registered two more presidential candidates. These are Ksenia Sobchak, nominated by the Civil Initiative Party, and the leader of the Communists of Russia, Maxim Suraykin. Thus, in total, there will be eight names on the ballot.
Alexander Balitsky with the report.
Maxim Suraikin’s group of supporters was handing out bright red ties with Kalashnikov rifle tie pins near the entrance to the Central Election Commission meeting room: "This means that we’ll have a resolute struggle".
The Communists of Russia party candidate was also determined. Moreover, after today's official registration of presidential candidates, the most vivid stage begins, which is agitation. The Communists have always paid special attention to it.
Maxim Suraikin: "If a person supports the socialist system, the revival of the Soviet Union, they must support a Communist candidate with the program "10 Stalinist Strikes." If they want to continue to live in capitalism, they can vote for any bourgeois candidate".
Instead of Ksenia Sobchak, her presidential candidate's certificate was received by an authorized representative. After that, the document was immediately handed over to the Civil Initiative Party chairman. Andrei Nechaev is posing for a picture.
- Now it's 4:13 in Washington, neither morning nor night. Will you call Mrs. Sobchak? Have you congratulated her yet?
- I sent a text message.
As we were told at Sobchak’s headquarters, she read the text.
Andrei Nechaev, Civil Initiative Party: "She's now meeting with her voters and potential sponsors".
When it was already nighttime in Moscow, Sobchak was speaking at the Kennan Institute, where they study the problems of Russia, Ukraine, and the other post-Soviet states. It was founded by George Frost Kennan, who is called "the architect of the cold war." Then, Sobchak visited the National Democratic Institute, the main mission of which is to promote democracy where, in the opinion of the US, there’s little democracy. The plans of the "candidate against everyone" were shared by her associates in Moscow.
Timur Valeyev, Ksenia Sobchak’s chief of staff: "We'll distribute newspapers, shoot TV commercials for state broadcasting, prepare to participate in the debates, of course".
Now, after the applicants had fulfilled the requirements of electoral law and have been officially registered as presidential candidates, the Central Election Commission presents the ballot. That's how it'll look. The voters will receive the blank form on March 18 at their polling places. Here’s a list of eight surnames in strictly alphabetical order: Baburin, Grudinin, Zhirinovsky, Putin, Sobchak, Suraykin, Titov, and Yavlinsky. Each name has brief information about the candidate: The date of birth, place of work, and what kind of political force put this candidate forward.
The candidate from the Russian People's Union, Sergei Baburin, devoted himself today to spiritual affairs. He took part in services in the Temple of St. Theodore the Studite, where Suvorov used to come and even sing in the church choir. Baburin participated in the procession. After that, answering journalists' questions, he said that Russia has a special path of development.
Sergei Baburin, the Russian People's Union: "Relying only on our own strengths, our traditions, combining them with the latest technologies in the social sphere and the economy, we’ll not only be able to become world leaders, but we’ll make every person in our country happier".
Vladimir Zhirinovsky's supporters met him today in the Volga region. At Samara Airport, the LDPR candidate examined one of the main local brands, Lada.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky: "Well, when will we make a cheap car for people? Like the one we used to have! The Oka! Didn't you make the Oka? Why can India make one for 50 thousand rubles, and we can’t make one even for 200?"
Zhirinovsky got behind the wheel, touched the interior. Then, he discussed the forthcoming presidential election with the aerospace university students. And in the Nizhny Novgorod University, he gave a lecture and told them why it’s important to vote.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky: "This is a great right, that was won by all the peoples of the world, to elect the head of state, deputies and so on. And it is a secret ballot. You enter the booth, there are 8 cells, 8 names, and you just put a check mark".
Today, Grigory Yavlinsky had an exam for the students of the Institute of Philosophy and Political Science in Rostov-on-Don. They invited the doctor of economic sciences to pick his questions. Yavlinsky calculated the losses of the Russian economy from sanctions: three trillion a year. He also said that the state must help business owners.
Grigory Yavlinsky: "There's no system for innovation in Russia! There's no system that helps inventions become a reality. There’s no system that allows... This, for example, this microphone. There’s no system to make our own microphone, a Russian one, one that works".
Boris Titov traditionally emphasized the need to support small business owners. Today, he’s in Stavropol visiting the local market, which is always like a litmus test.
Boris Titov: "We need an economic strategy, which we’re talking about right now, and we’re going to this election for our economy not to work in favor of these huge oil companies. We don’t want to live only on oil. Here’s where life and the economy are! It’s developing here, in the regions!"
A lot of work is now being done at Vladimir Putin's headquarters throughout the country, while the co-chairman of the all-Russian staff, Sergei Kogogin, is meeting with local activists in Oryol today. They are going to meet with voters and deliver Putin's position.
Sergei Kogogin: "When we choose the leader for the next six years, one must understand who’ll be able to solve the internal problems of the economy, who’ll be able to defend our interests and consolidate our country in the fight against external challenges".
There’s a variety of questions coming to the headquarters about healthcare development, industry, and small business support. A reception of citizens was held by Alexander Rumyantsev in Vladivostok. Putin’s co-head of staff, who runs the Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center, spoke about the future of medicine.
Alexander Rumyantsev: "We need to rebuild the children's regional hospital. We built perinatal centers in our regions, and this was followed by a significant reduction in infant mortality. Now, we want to engage in high-tech medicine that helps children".
Each day, the number of volunteers that want to help Putin's campaign is growing. They can register on the website. Today, the CEC wished all candidates to conduct the campaign with dignity and honesty, and as transparently as possible. The election will take place in 37 days.
Alexander Galitsky, Maxim Shchepilov, and Pavel Alexeyev, Vesti.