Is there life after Zhirinovsky? In a way, life in the Liberal Democratic Party after the potential departure of the founder and long-time leader of the party to retirement or the afterlife. This is not the first time this question has come up, but perhaps it's never been so urgent.
However, according to Vladimir Volfovich's associates, the negative rumors are not only exaggerated but also unfounded. The latest good news is: “Vladimir Zhirinovsky's health is stable, and he is receiving all the necessary medical care,” said State Duma deputy Sergei Leonov. He is still leading the party. We hope that he will soon address the public and answer all their questions.
It's not entirely clear why the politician's son, Igor Lebedev, who previously served as vice-speaker in the last Duma, posted a two-word message on his Facebook page on Monday evening: “Just live!” Comments from social media users like “Good health to dad!”, “Vladimir Volfovich will outlive everyone!”, “The whole of Ukraine is waiting for him to die!” leave no doubt that the wish is directed towards the LPDR leader.
When a person's health allows them to continue leading, such requests are usually not made to them. It's highly unlikely that Sergei Leonov knows more about the situation than Zhirinovsky's son.
Vasily Vlasov, the first deputy head of the LDPR faction in the State Duma, added to the alarm by asking Patriarch Kirill for “help in organizing a special prayer for the health of Vladimir Volfovich.”
A good prayer doesn't hurt, of course. But why was the prayer requested so late – when the crisis seems to have already passed? Or is it not over, and the worst is yet to come? It's worth noting that 'sorokoust' involves forty liturgies in a row.
A cryptic statement at the start of Vlasov’s message to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church also raises concerning thoughts: “The pandemic showed the limitations of changing a person's awareness of their abilities in influencing the situation.” What was the author trying to convey? God only knows.
Even if the concerns are unfounded, and Zhirinovsky soon dispels the rumors, the question of finding a replacement for the party leader remains. Unfortunately, time goes on: the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party turns 76 years old in April.
Think tanks close to the Kremlin have long been worried about the “personnel problem” in the leadership of the country’s two oldest parliamentary parties, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Liberal Democratic Party. By the way, around the same time, the other member of the “at-risk group” – Gennady Zyuganov – made headlines due to health concerns at the Central Clinical Hospital.
AND WITH THE REASON OF THEIR argument – THE DEPUTY LEADER OF THE LDPR FRACTION VASILY VLASOV. PHOTO: DUMA.GOV.RU
However, the situation in the Liberal Democratic Party is the main concern for Kremlin experts: “The Communist Party of the Russian Federation does not pose significant problems for the authorities in this regard. The Communists have a wide range of party members who can replace Zyuganov without causing harm and remain loyal to the established rules of Russian party politics… The situation with the Liberal Democratic Party is more complex, because, unlike the Communists, the Liberal Democrats are a party with members weaker than Zhirinovsky. The unexpected departure of Zhirinovsky from the political scene holds both the risks of the party's collapse and the departure of its members to other projects, as well as the risks of shifting the votes of the Liberal Democrats to other parties.”
It is undeniable that Vladimir Volfovich is irreplaceable. None of the fellow party members can match him. If you imagine anyone in his place – either an empty space emerges, or a pathetic imitation. This also applies to the son of Vladimir Volfovich, Igor Lebedev. Not to offend, but in terms of charisma and artistry, nature was very generous to him. He did not inherit these traits.
To be fair, it should be noted that in the political science discussions about possible replacements for Zhirinovsky, Lebedev’s candidacy is barely mentioned. Last summer, he announced that he had decided not to participate in the Duma elections and to generally “suspend his participation in the political life of the country.”
However, it should be noted that Lebedev’s candidacy is hardly mentioned in the political science discussions about possible replacements for Zhirinovsky. Last summer, he announced that he had decided not to participate in the Duma elections and to generally “suspend his participation in the political life of the country.”
By the way, Vlasov is the most likely successor from a formal perspective. He is the second person in the faction. But, rumors suggest that the Liberal Democrats have a challenging attitude towards Zhirinovsky’s 26-year-old deputy.
Who else? Prominent, well-known figures in the party – few and far between. There is Mikhail Degtyarev, the current governor of the Khabarovsk Territory. There is Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. And a couple more deputies. But … In the words of the poet, “various wrong ones walk in the petty bustle.”
A strong decision would be the election of the former Khabarovsk governor Sergei Furgal as the leader. However, there are serious doubts that this candidacy will be approved by the Presidential Administration.
Yet, the drama of the situation is significantly reduced by three important circumstances. Firstly, Vladimir Volfovich is still with us and, as some of his fans assure, “will still outlive everyone.” And the strength of the group organized by Vlasov cannot be underestimated.
If someone doubts that prayer will work in this case, then here is the explanation found on the Orthodox Life portal: “Is it possible to order a magpie for a person who is baptized, but does not lead a completely pious life: he goes to church a little and so on? ..” Answer: “Even necessary! Maybe it is your magpie that will break into his heart and serve as a blessed discovery for the salvation of his soul.
Second, the next Duma elections are almost five years away. A hundred times still everything can be replayed. Well, and thirdly, the importance of parliament and, accordingly, parliamentary parties in our Fatherland is such that the question of who and when will replace Zhirinovsky is very important, of course, for his party and, possibly, for the Duma, on a countrywide scale, can have only one adequate answer: does it really matter?
