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Mironov’s intention to back Zyuganov “reasonable and optimistic”

Mironov’s statement this Wednesday is a good contribution to the campaign

MOSCOW, February 22 (Itar-Tass) —— The intention of Sergei Mironov, the presidential candidate from A Just Russia party, to back the leader of the CPRF, Gennadyv Zyuganov, if the latter qualifies for the second round of the presidential election is “pragmatic, reasonable and optimistic,” such is the view taken in the Communist Party.

“It [Mironov’s intention] is pragmatic: it is apparent that Zyuganov has the highest rating and stands the highest chances,” Ivan Melnikov, the first deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the CPRF and the head of the party’s campaign center, told Itar-Tass.

He said this intention is “reasonable and optimistic from the viewpoint of those voters who gave support to A Just Russia party in the election to the State Duma. “These people, one way or another, denied support to the incumbent authorities and to the course conducted over the recent years,” Melnikov said.

He recalled the promise Zyuganov had made publicly that after winning the presidential election he would declare for Mironov’s election to an important post, that of speaker of the State Duma. The leader of the CPRF had made assurances earlier that in case of the victory in the upcoming presidential election the party guarantees reelection to the lower house of parliament in December 2012.

The first deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party does not share Mironov’s doubts about Zyuganov’s victory. “This is a delusion resulting, perhaps, from the lack of information, or a result of the authorities’ propaganda. Zyuganov speaks of victory only, and the second round must become the initial step to it,” he said.

“Mironov’s statement this Wednesday is a good contribution to the campaign; it charges with energy the last ten days of the campaigning,” he said.

The leader of A Just Russia party earlier in the day did not rule out that he would give support to the leader of the CPRF, Gennady Zyuganov, if he ties up for the second round with Vladimir Putin. “I will back Zuyganov if he is ready to win, if he does not lose heart, and does not surrender the election as in 1996,” Mironov told a press conference on Wednesday.

At the same time Mironov believes Vladimir Putin can win the presidential election in the first round. However, making a hypothesis about the second round, and being aware that he would not get there, Mironov refuses to give the votes of his supporters to either Mikhail Prokhorov or Vladimir Zhirinovsky, should they get to the second round. “If Zyuganov persuades me, I am raedy to do this,” Mironov said.

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