Fatherland - All Russia Is Instant
Frontrunner
MOSCOW, Aug 18, 1999 -- (Reuters) The
Fatherland - All Russia alliance, which captured the
support of Russia's most popular politician on
Tuesday, is an instant electoral front-runner that
looks set to steamroll through the country's politics.
The alliance, led by Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov
and regional bosses, is only two weeks old.
But former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov's
announcement that he will lead its list for parliament
in December's election solidifies it as a titan,
shoving aside Communists and reformists alike.
It could also catapult either Luzhkov or Primakov
to the presidency in mid-2000.
The bloc's leaders make clear they intend to
dominate the vast political center in a country
where most people identify neither with radical communists on the left nor
with reformers on the right, whom many blame for Russia's economic
decline.
The group has also positioned itself as hostile to President Boris Yeltsin and
his Kremlin entourage, allowing its leaders to tap into widespread discontent
with the status quo.
"There is no other political force, if we think about it," said Mintimer
Shaimiyev, leader of the oil rich Tatarstan region in announcing the alliance
on August 4.
"Somebody has to assume the responsibility now."
Fatherland is the political machine of Luzhkov, a powerful, ambitious and
outspoken leader who has yet to say whether he wants to become Russia's
next president.
Two weeks ago his party united with All Russia, a grouping of regional
bosses led by Shaimiyev, St Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakovlev and
Oleg Morozov, leader of Russia's Regions, a mid-size faction in parliament,
and others.
Former tax minister Georgy Boos, a former parliamentary heavyweight, is
coordinating the campaign.
Each regional boss is an electoral colosus on his home turf. Luzhkov, for
example, won regional leadership elections with about 90 percent of the
vote.
Other groups have also lined up to join.
Primakov said the Agrarian Party which has drawn millions of farmers'
votes in the past, would also sign up. The Agrarians have been allied to the
Communists, and their interest in the new bloc is a sign of its appeal on the
left.
Since the moment the new bloc stepped into the arena, it made clear it was
seeking the support of Primakov, Russia's most popular politician, who
brought moderate communists, centrists and liberals into a broad coalition
government in eight months as premier.
Yeltsin sacked Primakov in May, but the former top diplomat's stature only
grew.
(C)1999 Copyright Reuters Limited |
