KPRF DEPUTY HEAD MELNIKOV ON ELECTIONS, THE TANDEM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 002944 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ECON RS SUBJECT: KPRF DEPUTY HEAD MELNIKOV ON ELECTIONS, THE TANDEM AND THE PARTY'S FUTURE Classified By: Acting Political MinCouns David Kostelancik for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Deputy Head of the Communist Party in the State Duma Ivan Melnikov and Andrey Petrovich Fillipov, Head of the International Department of the party's Central Committee, met with us December 4. Discussion included the October 11 elections, views of Medvedev's modernization drive, Putin's four hour call-in session, rumors of a merger with Just Russia, and future initiatives of the party. The mood was characterized by guarded optimism about Medvedev, open cynicism about Putin, and confidence in the party's future despite little evidence of opportunity for improvement. End Summary. October Elections: Another Missed Opportunity for Medvedev -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Melnikov described the October elections as flawed, nowhere more so than in Moscow. Mayor Luzhkov so distorted the vote count that President Medvedev was forced to schedule a meeting with the three Duma opposition parties to discuss reforms to the system. Melnikov was present for the meeting, and was impressed with Medvedev's formation of a task force comprised of representatives from all four Duma political parties to investigate abuses. Both Melnikov and Fillipov agreed that Medvedev, in his Russia Forward article and Poslaniye, was describing a future for Russia that the Communists could support. As with his promises for election reform, however, he was making grand statements and then failing to come through on any of his promises. Putin, on the other hand, was seen by the Communists to be continuing the same successful self-serving policies. They described his marathon four hour phone-in session as "Santa Claus coming to Russia," as Putin avoided serious political issues and focused on handing out cash. Merger Rumors Refuted, but Not Dismissed -------------- ¶3. (C) Novaya Gazeta reported December 2 that during a meeting between Communist Party Head Gennadiy Zyuganov and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the two discussed a merger of the KPRF with rival opposition party Just Russia. In the same paper on December 4 Zyuganov refuted the claim. Melnikov, however, was careful not to deny the possibility of a merger in the future. While he was clear that he did not feel Just Russia was a good match for the KPRF, he also stressed that the Communists were willing to work with, and potentially incorporate, any party that shared their views and policy goals. He mentioned LDPR and Yabloko specifically as potential partners. A New Book to Tout an Old Theme -------------- ¶4. (C) The KPRF will release a major report just before March 2010 called, "Russia's Path Forward to Socialism," which will contrast the economic situation in the country since 1991 to that of the Soviet period. Melnikov states this report would be the foundation for Communist election campaigns leading up to the federal elections in 2012. The party has been frustrated by an inability to capitalize on the financial crisis by taking support from United Russia with promises of socialist policies. United Russia' popularity has remained relatively stable, while that of the KPRF has risen only marginally. (Note: In some areas of Southern Russia, the Communist Party is gaining significant support at the expense of United Russia. This point was not raised by our interlocutors. End Note.) This report appears aimed at breathing new life into that argument. Unfortunately Melnikov offered no new policy ideas in support of the report. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Melnikov and Fillipov seemed genuinely optimistic that Medvedev might begin to push for serious change in the country, and were specifically enthusiastic about his calls for an innovation-based economy. Putin remains for them the power behind the electoral fraud that prevented the KPRF from making gains in October 11 regional elections. While the party's report, "Russia's Path Forward to Socialism," has the potential to rekindle a debate about the benefits of greater socialism, "Santa" Putin reiterated in his phone-in show that he, too, is adept at offering social support in exchange for political stability. While the KPRF maintains its solid base of support throughout the country, without serious further MOSCOW 00002944 002 OF 002 decline in the economy it seems unlikely that repackaging their socialist policies in a new report will undermine United Russia's continued popularity. Beyrle