“He was never afraid of elections and stronger opponents” – BBC

The former chairman of the State Duma Gennady Seleznev has died on the 68th year of life. In recent years he was seriously ill, he had cancer. Seleznev was led lower house of parliament for eight years – at a time when the decisions of the Duma sometimes depended the fate of the country

Coming from a journalistic environment Seleznyov before entering politics led by “Komsomolskaya Pravda” in the years of perestroika and then he was one of the leaders of the Communist Party. In 1993 he was elected to the first State Duma of Russia, and in 1996 he became Speaker of the Parliament, as the representative of the Communist Party faction, which at that time was in stiff opposition to the government and President Boris Yeltsin.

In times Duma Seleznev was the center of political battles: given that most of it belonged to the left opposition in the face of the Communist Party.

Comparing Parliament 1990 -x with the one that was then formed in the speaker Boris Gryzlov, United Russia, Seleznyov spoke about it in a critical tone: “To the members of the Duma, and only did what they clicked his heels and said,” There! “. Look at it was just disgusting. Some barracks, not Parliament! “.

Thanks to the journalistic past, Seleznyov, speaker of the reputed fairly democratic and sympathy for the journalists, though those are often criticized his work in the post. Convinced left, he was able to find a dialogue with the various political forces and was considered a master of political compromise.

According to their beliefs Seleznev was more a social democrat, and expresses the hope that the country will have a powerful socialist party. For many years he was considered a collaborator Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, but in 2002 was expelled from the Communist Party for failing to resign at the request of the Speaker of the party.

Sam Seleznev said afterwards that Zyuganov “surpassed” even the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, occupying the post of party leader for over 20 years.

More as the Speaker of Parliament, Seleznev ballotirovalsyaya governor of the Moscow region, and could not even get around in the first round of the incumbent governor Boris Gromov, but in the second round he lost by a small margin.

Gennady Seleznyov lot of smoke – the photos it is often with a cigarette or pipe. He has repeatedly acknowledged that it is difficult to get rid of this habit. His favorite hobby was riding a horse and about this he could talk for hours. In an interview, he recalled that the horse was carried away in his childhood, when he lived in the village in the Leningrad region.

«In my life always there were stables, horse workers – we boys loved to substitute the groom and steal horses at night,” – said the politician, who in his youth studied at the equestrian school.

Seleznev was appointed a few months before the beginning of the second term Yeltsin’s second term and leave this chair a few years after the election of President Vladimir Putin. At this time, from the State Duma, or not to accept its decisions depended pretty much – in some cases and the fate of Russia.

Be a permanent Speaker from 1996 to 2003, it means the ability to ensure the operation of complex contractual arrangements which result – good or worse – but contributed to the transition from the Yeltsin era to the era of Putin .

«As speaker of the State Duma from 1996 until 2003, Gennady Seleznev was one of the founders of modern Russian parliamentarism. The Russian political system was formed largely during his direct involvement, – said political analyst Konstantin Kalachev. – But to fit into the new reality, he could not. He was never afraid of elections and stronger opponents. Hold out for so many years as Speaker, to win the election in the district – in these times it is expensive. The country has lost a bright person who is inscribed in the modern political history of Russia. The heyday of his career came at a time when the political struggle was conducted according to strict rules, according to the Hamburg account. ”

Well-known TV reporter Michael Degtar Gennady Seleznyov knew many years. First, as the chief editor of the newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda” at the beginning of the heyday of this newspaper. Then – as the Speaker of the State Duma of the second and third convocations.

«Gennady was a unique figure in the history of the Russian state – the official of this scale was always amazing careful and friendly man – recalls Degtar. – He helped so many people, and I do not know a single person who he refused. ”

And, as chief editor “Komsmolki” Seleznev did not recognize the door and come to the rescue of its reporters.

«When it was earthquake in Armenia in 1988, I was sent by “Komsomolskaya Pravda” in the Central Committee of the Komsomol, the headquarters of the aftermath of the earthquake, and every day had to pass an interview on this subject – says Degtar. – So, I was sitting in the waiting room at Nicholas Paltseva, he was one of the secretaries of the Central Committee of the Young Communist League, and I keep a few hours in the waiting room and interview all do not prescribe the number at the same time give up at 11 pm and the material blood from his nose, but must be delivered. And then I get a call from the office: “Where is the note?” I answered, “Yes, that’s not allowed!»

Seleznev came immediately then in the Komsomol Central Committee, looked at me, almost a foot and opened the door He shouted obscene finger: “Nick, do not make yourself out! Our newspaper is worth it! “. And interviews took place immediately. At 11 pm, as expected, the number of signed print. »

Epoch, which led the Duma Gennady Seleznev was in transition. First, the Parliament had a strong representation of the opposition parties, but all are gradually reduced the role of the legislature.

«Nevertheless, in 1998-1999, we have almost come to a parliamentary government (headed by another bright Representative of the era – Yevgeny Primakov) and then headed to the Duma has become a significant institution Seleznev, – said political analyst Nikolai Mironov. – Then, however, the power to choose a different path, and are already thinking of 1999-2003 was much more “relaxed”, and the executive has increased markedly. But all the same, and has been a parliamentary debate, government and opposition. With the departure of the Duma, Seleznev from the post of the speaker of her in 2003 everything was different. There comes a time of “sovereign democracy”, thanks to the consolidation of the role of parliament in the ruling party it has been minimized. Such policies Gennady Seleznyov, though moderate, but independent, were not needed. New political mores and the new system more suited people like Boris Gryzlov, replacing Seleznev. Along with Gennady care and political formation of the second half 90 – contradictory, but are prone to large, capable of reform, political activity, openness and dialogue with society as equals “.

In recent years, Seleznev did his “Party of Revival of Russia”, maintained relations with some former party members of the Communist Party. Zyuganov, though not spoken, but the meetings at official events both politicians always fed each other’s hands. In 2003, Seleznev was re-elected to Parliament – in a single-mandate district in St. Petersburg, he defeated Irina Khakamada. In 2007, the ex-speaker of the Duma nominated again – is the party “Patriots of Russia”, but without success. In 2009, he became chairman of the board of directors MOSOBLBANK.

Also, Gennady Seleznev was the chairman of the International TV & Cinema Forum “Together”, which is already in its 16th year, will be opened in Yalta several weeks.