Communist Party of the Russian Federation

Communist Party of the Russian Federation is a major left-wing political party in Russia and the primary successor to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Founded in 1993 after the constitutional crisis and the ban on its predecessor was lifted, it has consistently been the second-largest party in the State Duma. The party is led by longtime chairman Gennady Zyuganov and advocates for a return to socialism and the restoration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

History

The party was officially established at its second extraordinary congress in February 1993, reconstituting the political organization of Russian communists after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its formation followed the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, where supporters of the Supreme Soviet of Russia, including many communists, clashed with forces loyal to Boris Yeltsin. The party quickly became the primary opposition force to Yeltsin's government and the policies of shock therapy promoted by figures like Yegor Gaidar. It performed strongly in the 1995 and 1999 Duma elections, positioning itself as a vocal critic of the First Chechen War and the rise of the oligarchs. Throughout the Presidency of Vladimir Putin, the party has maintained a systemic opposition role, often supporting the Kremlin on foreign policy issues like the annexation of Crimea while criticizing domestic economic liberalism.

Ideology and political positions

The party's official ideology is based on Marxism–Leninism and the legacy of figures like Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. It promotes Soviet patriotism and left-wing nationalism, emphasizing the achievements of the Soviet era in industrialization, victory in the Great Patriotic War, and space exploration. Its program calls for the nationalization of key industries, the restoration of free healthcare and education, and a planned economy. The party is a staunch advocate for the Eurasian Economic Union and closer integration with Belarus and Kazakhstan, viewing it as a step toward a renewed union. It strongly opposes NATO expansion, American imperialism, and what it terms the "falsification of history" regarding the Soviet Union.

Organization and structure

The party is organized on the principle of democratic centralism, with its highest body being the Party Congress, which elects the Central Committee. The Central Committee, in turn, elects a Presidium and the Chairman of the Central Committee, a position held by Gennady Zyuganov since 1993. Its youth wing is the Leninist Young Communist League of the Russian Federation. The party maintains a widespread network of regional and local branches across the federal subjects of Russia, and publishes the newspaper Pravda, historically the main newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It is a leading member of the Union of Communist Parties – Communist Party of the Soviet Union, an umbrella organization for post-Soviet communist parties.

Electoral performance

The party has been a permanent fixture in the State Duma since the 1993 Russian legislative election, consistently finishing in second place. Its best result was in the 1995 election, where it won 157 seats. In the 1996 presidential election, Gennady Zyuganov lost in the second round to Boris Yeltsin. The party's share of the vote has gradually declined in the 21st century, facing competition from systemic opposition parties like A Just Russia — For Truth and the dominance of United Russia. In the 2021 legislative election, it won 57 seats, remaining the largest opposition faction. It also holds seats in numerous regional parliaments and municipal councils.

Leadership and prominent members

The party has been led since its inception by Gennady Zyuganov, a former ideologue in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Other prominent figures include First Deputy Chairman Ivan Melnikov, and Duma faction leaders like Vladimir Kashin and Dmitry Novikov. The party has included notable politicians such as former Vice President Alexander Rutskoy in the 1990s, and popular governor of Irkutsk Oblast Sergey Levchenko. It also counts among its members decorated veterans like cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya and Hero of Socialist Labour Valery Rashkin, though some members, like Pavel Grudinin who was its 2018 presidential candidate, are not formal party members.

Category:Political parties in Russia Category:Communist parties in Russia Category:1993 establishments in Russia