Show must go on: who will replace Zhirinovsky as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party?

Political scientists continue to speculate who will lead the LDPR after the death of the founder and leader Zhirinovsky. Moreover, their forecasts differ. Some, like, for example, Kommersant columnist Dmitry Drize , are sure that this party, as well as others, needs to be “strengthened” by well-known characters:

“... It seems that, rather, a course will be taken to strengthen the parties with some recognizable figures. Therefore, Vladimir Solovyov in the LDPR is quite likely, as is Sergei Shnurov in the Party of Growth or Zakhar Prilepin in the SZRP. Moreover, it’s not a fact that they will be elected to the Duma - this is just such a “face work”. In other words, instead of a political institution, parties smoothly become another media project. In this case, the voter does not vote for the program, but for one or another character that he personally likes. Such a continuation of the talk show on TV.

Journalist Anastasia Kashevarova , listing candidates for the post of leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, prefers one:

“The candidacies of the head of the international committee of the State Duma Leonid Slutsky, the governor of the Khabarovsk Territory Mikhail Degtyarev, the journalist Vladimir Solovyov and the chairman of the committee on labor and social policy Yaroslav Nilov are being discussed. (…)

Of course, I would choose Slutsky. The party will not die with him, he will develop it. He will find financial flows, he is an international specialist. And not just like that, he was number two on the lists in the Duma. He feels the direction of the country and will be able to solve all organizational issues. In addition, he is friends and works with many leaders of other states. And he will not be a parody of VVZh, but will continue his work with respect and care for everyone else.

Degtyarev now has a task - the development of the Khabarovsk Territory, which is strategic for Russia. He is in his place. Yaroslav Nilov is a wonderful person, almost from childhood he worked as Zhirinovsky's right hand. But he does not, due to his age, have that international experience and authority that, for example, Slutsky has ... "

Political scientist Konstantin Kalachev also believes that Slutsky has a talent for negotiation and is a political figure who will be convincing to voters: “Slutsky's virtues are that he has excellent relations with the Kremlin. It is no coincidence that he was among the negotiators on Ukraine. The chairman of the committee, and, most importantly, that he will be convincing for the voters of the Liberal Democratic Party”.

The average party-supporting voter is middle-aged and older. Too young head of the Liberal Democratic Party may cause distrust of the electorate, believes Kalachev.

He stressed that it would be easier for Slutsky to work with the sponsors of the party in the future: “Slutsky as a negotiator, a communicator will be stronger. He is a more independent figure, it will be easier for him to build relationships with everyone”, - added the political scientist.

Meanwhile, it is known that TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov has already refused to head the Liberal Democratic Party, saying that politics is a dirty business. Telegram-channel Brief quotes him as saying: “I definitely don’t play these games”.

But about Slutsky is still unclear.