MOSCOW (Realist English). Chairman of the CPRF Central Committee Gennady Zyuganov is again addressing voters and the public at a turning point: the US-Israeli war against Iran has entered a new phase, Russia’s economy is facing record sanctions and a decline in key indicators, and only months remain before the elections to the State Duma.
In an interview with the Krasnaya Liniya TV channel, the communist leader delivers a harsh assessment of the government’s course, calls capitalism “madness that is setting the world on fire,” and explains why he believes the only salvation for the country is socialism. The conversation took place against the backdrop of the upcoming report of the Government, the Accounts Chamber and the Central Bank.
Realist English publishes the main theses of this frank conversation — about economic failures, the “fascist hydra,” two choices for voters, and why an interest rate of 19% will “strangle the last remnants of the economy.”
“We failed the past year on key indicators.”
Answering a question about the conclusions that Russian authorities should draw after the escalation in the Middle East, Zyuganov stated that he insists on an early report from the Government.
“We failed the past year on key indicators,” the CPRF leader stressed.
He recalled that the war against the Russian world has been going on for five years, and today it is flaring up across the planet — from Venezuela to Iran.
“If we assess what is happening incorrectly today, we will be unable to cope with the challenges that have fallen on our country,” Zyuganov warned, adding that 31,000 sanctions have been added to this.
In the politician’s opinion, the first and main conclusion is the need to immediately adjust the financial and economic course imposed by the “thieving Yeltsin-Gaidar team.”
“We haven’t yet gotten out of that rut,” he stated, noting that over the past year Russia has shown its worst results in a decade.
“Only the complete capitulation of the Kyiv regime can ensure security.”
Zyuganov called for strengthening all components of the country’s security.
“If the Nazi-Bandera regime remains in Kyiv, no security is guaranteed for us. Only its complete capitulation can ensure a confident future for entire generations,” the chairman of the CPRF Central Committee declared.
He also criticized the behavior of US President Donald Trump, calling him “a typical imperialist, a trader who stops at nothing.”
“For the first time I see people negotiating, hugging, patting each other on the shoulder, going their separate ways, and the next day killing not only leaders but all the negotiators,” Zyuganov noted, referring to US policy toward Iran and Venezuela.
Capitalism has reached a dead end, socialism is the only way out.
Commenting on President Vladimir Putin’s statement four years ago that capitalism had reached a dead end, Zyuganov developed the idea: “Today everyone sees that it is going mad. It hasn’t just reached a dead end. It is setting the fires of a terrible and dreadful war.”
As examples, he cited Trump’s intentions to seize Greenland, rename the Gulf of Mexico, take control of trade routes, and allocate one and a half trillion dollars to war and the army. “Well, this is madness,” the CPRF leader summed up.
According to him, socialism, justice and labor are the link to hold on to.
“Under socialism and justice, it is impossible for 155 billionaires (20 billion more than four years ago) to not want to work for victory, not want to pay normal taxes, to send money abroad, exploiting primarily resources and the working masses,” Zyuganov declared.
As a positive example, he cited Belarus under the leadership of Alexander Lukashenko: “There, the socialization of life is the main feature. There is no oligarchy, no organized crime, they have not allowed uncontrolled migration.”
“Voters have two choices: big capital, fascism, war — or socialism, justice, friendship of peoples.”
Speaking about the upcoming elections to the State Duma, Zyuganov stated that the political system of United Russia has gone bankrupt over 20 years.
“If the authorities do not give voters the opportunity to correct the situation with their ballot in September, they will doom the country to defeat,” he stressed.
According to him, voters have two choices left. “If you like what is happening — United Russia and its props (LDPR, New People). We offer a different option: fair socialism, friendship of peoples, a government of national interests,” Zyuganov said.
He also accused the authorities of fearing fair elections and refusing to hold a discussion. The CPRF leader cited data on a 2% drop in GDP over three months, a 14% decline in metallurgy, a 30% decline in the automotive industry, and a 21% decline in the production of combines and tractors.
“Is this what you are going to the elections with?” he asked his opponents.
The third anti-fascist forum and the plenum of the CPRF Central Committee.
Zyuganov announced that at the end of May, the CPRF will hold its third international anti-fascist forum, with the fight against terrorism at the center of its agenda.
“It is obvious to everyone that big capital, in order to save its pockets and its backside, invented fascism,” he declared, adding that the fascist hydra is gaining strength, has occupied America, is waging war against Venezuela, and has unleashed a bloody massacre in the Persian Gulf.
The upcoming plenum of the CPRF Central Committee, according to the party chairman, will be devoted to the theme “from survival to development.”
“We are facing such a challenge that it requires our Earth, our state, our civilization to survive,” Zyuganov stressed.
He also recalled that the CPRF created a committee to defend Nicolas Maduro and lift the blockade of Cuba, and 400 recipients from different countries of the world responded to the call. “I hope our team will prepare this forum brilliantly,” the communist leader said.
“An interest rate of 19% will strangle the last remnants of the economy.”
Concluding the interview, Zyuganov warned that the interest rate that has developed over 16 months — almost 19% — will strangle the last remnants of the economy, and small and medium-sized businesses, having received no support, will either go completely bankrupt or go into the shadows.
“The old course has led the country into a dead end. We urgently need to steer out of it,” he summarized, expressing confidence that his party has a clear program, a brave army, great political courage, and a unique historical experience to do so.
“Our cause is just, victory will be ours,” Gennady Zyuganov concluded.
