Participants in the 8th congress of the United Russia Party could believe that life is wonderful.
Photo: Vasily Shaposhnikov
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Putin Agrees to Top United Russia List
Russian President Vladimir Putin accept the United Russia Party's offer to head its federal list with gratitude. Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov heard at the party congress that Putin had practically agreed to take the helm of the government in May 2008 but found it hard to believe.
Security around the Kremlin yesterday morning was at a true all-time maximum. There is simply nothing to compare it to. Ilinka Street, on which Gostiny Dvor is located, was blocked to pedestrians and traffic at 10:00 a.m. They started letting pedestrians pass again at noon, and opened the street to cars at 4:00. Employees of the presidential administration, who spend half their day en route between the Kremlin and their headquarters on Staraya (Old) Square, got to relax. Their passes, signed by the president himself and able to move mountains, didn't budge the police cordon, which was largely made up of majors, one inch.
Inside Gostiny Dvor, things were much more democratic. MPs mixed freely with journalists, as though they were there for a common cause. I talked with someone four hours before the congress was to start who was very well informed. But his idea that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be placed a the top of the United Russia Party federal list seemed too bold.
He was too well informed. Now I knew something too, and I spread my knowledge around the guests and deputies at the congress. It probably would have been better if I had not known so much. Members of the party leadership instantly became morose and lost their taste for life. Regular party members were sincerely interested and asked repeatedly if such happiness could really be possible. I gathered that the party leadership had been informed and that my information was correct.
“What are you saying?” asked speaker of the Moscow City Duma Vladimir Platonov. “Number One? Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin?! Remember, the Communist Party had to choose what was more important, the authority of the authorities or the authority of an authority. In this case, if it's even imaginable, it's the second. Yes, probably it is possible. Remember, [Moscow Mayor] Yury Mikhailovich Luzhkov spoke about that once.”
Soon the Russian national anthem brought all conversations to an end. On the stage, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, speaker of the State Duma Boris Gryzlov, Emergencies Minister Sergey Shoigu and Luzhkov were standing. The mayor actually knew the words to the anthem. That was probably how he won his place there. I heard that the battle for those places on stage was fierce and lasted into the middle of the previous night.
Putin delivered a short speech. It was the speech of a party leader, more passionate than any address to the Federal Assembly or even his speech in Guatemala when they turned in the Olympic application. He listed the economic accomplishments in the country during his two terms, among them the creation of a class of new businessmen. “Major businessmen are respected people and they should, of course, also make a contribution to the development of the party,” he said. He warned those sitting on the stage that “We need to think about the renewal of the federal and regional organs of the party.” In conclusion, he said Russia finally has an opportunity to show that it is a great country where dignity and human rights are supreme. Yes, I thought, it needs to show that.
The president was followed by the speaker of the Duma, who spoke in sound bites for videos to be distributed to regional party organizations. “This is your course, Vladimir Vladimirovich, and we will follow it into the elections!” “It is in our plans to reduce inflation to 3 percent per year!” “We won't let ourselves be afraid, because we are Russia!” “The awe-inspiring valor of our fathers and grandfathers remains alive in our hearts!” and finally, “I want to thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for the trust and support!” he said.
I still couldn't believe that they were going to ask the president to head the federal party list. But I hadn't caught on to the dramaturgy yet.
The next speaker was Irina Nikolaevna Lapshina, weaver of the fifth category. “We have a small town,” she said. “I know about life in the Russian provinces without leaflets from the opposition.” She looked straight out at the audience, obviously having memorized her speech. “You said you wouldn't serve a third term. To tell the truth, I didn't understand when you said that. I think the law can be changed. It's a technical matter.” Here there was deafening applause. “And the people will respect the law just as much as before.” That, of course, was for sure. “There are so many smart, respected people here, let's think of a way for Vladimir Vladimirovich to remain president in 2008!”
Red in the face, Irina Lapshina left the stage to thunderous applause. She had played an important role in the proceedings, bringing up the idea for discussion. She was followed by Paralympic champion Mikhail Terentyev, who said that Putin was lucky.
“While you are president,” he said, “luck will accompany Russia! For tens of millions of people, you have become a talisman, a symbol of the country.”
Sergey Borisov, head of the small business association Opora Rossii, reminded the president that “There is no country in the world where the leader was not connected with a party.”
Borisov acted as a voluntary whipping boy. He was followed by Gennady Kotelnikov, dean of the Samara Medical University, who harshly criticized his comrade.
“It is not necessary at all for the head of state to join a party,” he said, eventually getting to the words he was given the honor saying. “I propose that the congress ask Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to head the federal list of our party!” Kotelnikov went on note that that would allow the president to become prime minister. The audience rose to its feet.
Gryzlov called the president to speak again and Putin read from a notebook what he had written during the presentations about having restored the constitutional order and territorial integrity of the country, routed oligarchy, and now fighting corruption. Finally, he made a theatrical pause.
“Though I was one of the initiators of United Russia's founding,” he began, “I, like the vast majority of people in our country, am not a member of any political party, and I would rather not change this status. I think it would be wrong to change the Constitution to suit one particular person, even if that person is someone I most certainly trust. The proposal to head the Government is entirely realistic, but it is too soon to talk about this at the moment because at least two conditions would first need to be met. First, United Russia would have to win the State Duma election on December 2, and second, our voters would have to elect a decent, effective and modern-thinking President with whom it would be possible to work together.”
Viktor Zubkov sprang to mind. Putin used the same words to describe him two weeks ago at Valdai.
“What we need to talk about today,” the president continued, “is the fact that your party can and should be an instrument for guaranteeing social stability and ensuring that the next parliament and the state power system in general can function effectively. Your party should initiate development and provide support for the executive authorities in carrying out the plans that have been made. This is all something that can and should be the subject of discussion. It is therefore with gratitude that I accept your proposal to head the United Russia list!”
There was a standing ovation.
Andrey Kolesnikov
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 02, 2007
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