18 June 1996
The SACP salutes the significant electoral achievement of Gennady Zyuganov in the first round of the Russian presidential elections. Zyuganov, candidate of the Russian communist Party, with the support of over ZOO other organisations, has won nearly one third of the votes in this first round.
This achievement is particularly notable in the light of a massive, international campaign of support for Yeltsin; all kinds of "rooigevaar" smears (particularly ironic given the fact that Yelsin was a more senior communist apparatchik in the old order than Zyuganov ever was); and dangerous talk about "civil war" if the communist Party candidate were to win.
Before Sunday's elections, Yeltsin was boasting that he would win more than 50 % in the first round/ and that no second round would be needed. Abusing thee considerable resources of the Russian state and public medial Yeltsin has managed to squeeze a small majority this time. The outcome of the second round is still far form decided, and Zyuganov chances must not be discounted.
However, whatever the outcome, it is clear that a very significant proportion of the Russian electorate now rejects Yeltsin's made-in-Washington policies. Sundays election results confirm once more that the triumphalism in the West just six years losing its shine with every passing year. From India through Italy to Russia left-aligned forces are regrouping and making important electoral inroads.
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