Leonid Slutsky 2024 presidential campaign
Campaigned for2024 Russian presidential election
CandidateLeonid Slutsky
Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party
(2022–present day)
Member of the State Duma
(1999–present day)
AffiliationLiberal Democratic Party
StatusAnnounced and nominee:
19 December 2023
Websitelslutsky.ru

The 2024 presidential campaign of Leonid Slutsky, deputy of the State Duma and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, was announced on 19 December 2023, during the party's congress.

Slutsky became the third person in history nominated by the Liberal Democratic Party for the President of Russia. After being nominated, Slutsky said that he “does not want to beat (incumbent president) Putin” in the election.[1]

Background

Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Leonid Slutsky during the State Duma session in 2019

From the moment of the party's creation in 1989 to 2022, its permanent leader was Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Zhirinovsky was the party's presidential candidate in almost all elections except 2004. Zhirinovsky has stated that he intends to participate in all presidential elections until he turns 90 (at least until 2036),[2][3] and has also repeatedly expressed his intention to run for president in 2024.

In February 2022, Zhirinovsky was hospitalized in critical condition in Moscow with COVID-19.[4][5] In March, he was reportedly placed in a medically induced coma,[6] and underwent treatment for COVID-19 complications such as sepsis and respiratory failure.[7][8] Zhirinovsky claimed to have been vaccinated against COVID-19 eight times.[9]

On 6 April 2022, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the Duma, announced that Zhirinovsky had died following a long illness. He was 75.[10][11]

Vladimir Zhirinovsky named among his potential successors Mikhail Degtyarev, Alexei Didenko, Yaroslav Nilov, as well as his son Igor Lebedev.

In May 2022, an extraordinary congress of the party was held, at which its new leader was elected. Initially, Leonid Slutsky and Khabarovsk Governor Mikhail Degtyarev were considered the main candidates. However, shortly before the congress, Degtyarev declined to run for party leader and publicly endorsed Slutsky.[12] Other persons who declared their intention to run for the leadership of the party were not allowed to vote. In this connection, Leonid Slutsky was elected the new leader of the party on an uncontested basis.[13]

Leonid Slutsky has been a deputy of the State Duma since 1999. In 2016, he became chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and retained this position after the 2021 legislative election. Zhirinovsky has repeatedly called Slutsky a candidate for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, if he is elected president of Russia.

Announcement and nomination

Early speculation

Speculation about Slutsky's possible intention to run for president began immediately after his election as party leader. At the same time, Slutsky himself refused to give a clear answer about his participation in the elections, stating only that the party would definitely nominate its presidential candidate.[14] According to him, the party should have started considering possible candidates after the 2023 regional elections.[15]

According to media reports, the nomination of Slutsky was the main option for the party's participation in the election. In addition, according to political scientists, participation in the elections was necessary for Slutsky to strengthen his position in the party. If Zhirinovsky was one of the founders and the undisputed party leader, then Slutsky did not have such authority and he had to fight several intra-party groups at once, including Alexei Didenko and Yaroslav Nilov, who previously were removed by Slutsky from leadership positions in the party's apparatus,[16] and also such as Boris Chernyshov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and 2023 candidate for Mayor of Moscow, applying for the post of party leader.[17]

Nomination

Leonid Slutsky was nominated as a presidential candidate from the Liberal Democratic Party at the party congress held on 19 December 2023, in Crocus Expo, Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast. Mikhail Degtyarev proposed the candidacy of Slutsky to the congress.[18] 106 out of 108 delegates present at the congress voted for Slutsky by secret ballot.[19]

At the same time, Slutsky did not announce his participation in the elections in advance and evasively answered relevant questions, promising to announce plans later.[20]

Campaign

Early preparation

Preparations for Slutsky's presidential campaign began long before the official announcement of his presidential candidacy. In November 2022, Leonid Slutsky appointed blogger Anastasia Kashevarova deputy head of the central office of the Liberal Democratic party.[21] Kashevarova previously served as an assistant to the chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin. According to the press service of the party, Kashevarova was appointed to lead the information policy.[22] According to media reports, Kashevarova was appointed in order to increase Slutsky's fame and improve his image.[23]

However, already in January 2023, information appeared in the media about Kashevarova's departure from this position. The reason for the media's departure was called "Kashevrova's workload at her main job".[24]

In April 2023, information appeared in the media about Slutsky's dismissal of two political strategists Alexei Chadaev and Sergei Malakhov, who were preparing his presidential campaign. According to media reports, the reason for this step was allegedly a multiple overestimation of the cost of the services of third-party contractors to whom the political strategists applied. Previously, these political strategists worked with the speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and took part in the creation of the New People party.[17]

Main campaign

As part of the presidential campaign, Slutsky intends to visit about 30 regions of the country. According to Slutsky, as he travels around the regions and communicates with people, his election program will be formed. According to him, it is necessary to find out what problems of citizens need to be solved in the very near future. This will be the election program for both the presidential and future parliamentary elections.[25]

Slutsky's first trip as part of the campaign was a trip to Anadyr, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, on 30 December 2023. In Anadyr, Slutsky visited the Chukotka Social Rehabilitation Center for Minors and the local greenhouse complex.[26]

Endorsements

Governor of Khabarovsk Krai Mikhail Degtyarev

A number of Russian officials at federal and regional levels publicly endorsed Slutsky's candidacy.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Жириновский пообещал баллотироваться на пост президента до 90 лет". aif.ru. 21 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Жириновский до 90 лет хочет выставлять свою кандидатуру на выборы". ren.tv. 22 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Russian Ultranationalist Zhirinovsky Reportedly Hospitalized In Serious Condition With COVID". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty. Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Russian State Duma legislator Vladimir Zhirinovsky hospitalized in serious condition in Moscow". Armen Press. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Умер Владимир Жириновский". ria.ru. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Vladimir Zhirinovsky reported dead, Duma Speaker denies reports". AKI Press. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Telegram Channel 112: Vladimir Zhirinovsky is in a critical condition". News.Am. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Russian far-right politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky dies at 75". The Guardian. 6 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Russian far-right politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky dies at 75". Reuters. 6 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Far-Right Court Jester of Russian Politics, Dies at 75". The Moscow Times. 6 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Дегтярев предложил выдвинуть Леонида Слуцкого на пост лидера ЛДПР". РБК. 20 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Zhirinovsky's Presence Missed as LDPR Scrabbles For Successor". The Moscow Times. 12 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Слуцкий ответил на вопрос об участии в президентских выборах". РИА Новости. 15 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "ЛДПР выдвинет кандидата на президентские выборы 2024 года". РИА Новости. 2 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Источник: Слуцкий снял с должности руководителя центрального аппарата ЛДПР". РИА Новости. 25 October 2022.
  17. 1 2 ""ЛДПР – это вам не "Новые люди"": Леонид Слуцкий уволил политтехнологов, готовивших его к президентским выборам". Блокнот. 4 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "ЛДПР выдвинула Слуцкого в президенты". rbc.ru. 19 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "ЛДПР выдвинула Слуцкого кандидатом в президенты России". vedomosti.ru. 19 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "Слуцкий пообещал скоро объявить, будет ли участвовать в выборах президента". ria.ru. 3 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Источник: Кашеварова стала новым замруководителя центрального аппарата ЛДПР". РИА Новости. 15 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "Экс-советник Володина Кашеварова займется информполитикой в ЛДПР". РБК. 15 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "Блогер Кашеварова будет лепить из лидера ЛДПР Слуцкого "второго Жириновского"". Блокнот. 15 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "Источник сообщил об уходе Кашеваровой из центрального аппарата ЛДПР". РИА Новости. 24 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Слуцкий рассказал о своей избирательной кампании". news.ru. 19 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "С Чукотки началась предвыборная кампания Слуцкого". fedpress.ru. 30 December 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Делегаты XXXV Внеочередного Съезда ЛДПР — о выдвижении Леонида Слуцкого". ldpr.ru. 19 December 2023.
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