The Vladimir Zhirinovsky 2008 presidential campaign was the election campaign of Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky in the 2008 election. This was Zhirinovsky's fourth campaign for the Russian presidency, as he had previously run in the 1991, 1996, and 2000 elections.
| Campaigned for | 2008 Russian presidential election |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Vladimir Zhirinovsky Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (1991-present) Member of the State Duma (1993-present) Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of the Soviet Union (1991–92) |
| Affiliation | Liberal Democratic Party of Russia |
Campaigning
editDuring the campaign Zhirinovsky released a video in which he fired a rifle at targets bearing the faces of his opponents.[1][2]
Zhirinovsky generated controversy on the campaign trail by espousing severe and ludicrous proposals. For instance, he suggested that Russia should drop nuclear bombs into the Atlantic in order to create a tsunami that would flood Great Britain.[2]
Rather than distancing himself from the scandal-ridden LDPR party member Andrey Lugovoy, who was wanted by Scotland Yard for murder, Zhirinovsky intentionally sought to be photographed beside him.[2]
Platform
editZhirinovsky took rather extreme positions on many issues. For instance, he proposed a locking down and closing all of Russia's borders immediately after the election. He declared, "If you think that these are the actions of a police state, well, be my guest. I promise that I will take these actions."[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Vladimir Zhirinovsky: An aggressive voice". www.aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. February 26, 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d Bidder, Benjamin (February 28, 2008). "With a ludicrous campaign platform that includes plans to flood Great Britain and proclaim a police state, political clown Vladimir Zhirinovsky is roughing up the Russian election campaign. It's a move entirely to the Kremlin's liking because it helps to neutralize the potential of right-wing voters". www.speigel.de. Spiegel. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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