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Yavlinsky invites Social Democrats to cooperate

The leader of Yabloko is certain that the current system can be replaced only through elections

MOSCOW, June 14 (Itar-Tass) —— The founder of the Yabloko party, Grigory Yavlinsky, believes that in the current situation the party and leaders should spearhead the social-democratic movement, which, in his opinion, has great chances to succeed.

“I am not a social democrat, of course, but I have my own considerations,” he said at a round-table meeting devoted to the outlook for, strategy and tactic of the Social Democrats in the new political conditions.

Yavlinsky said there are four political trends in the country – the authorities and bureaucrats, the left-wingers, the nationalists, and the democrats. Yabloko positions itself as part of the latter, although, as Yavlinsky said, it is not a Social-Democratic party, but a social-liberal one. In the meantime, the social-democratic ideas are in great demand, but “the Social Democracy has not yet won its political acclaim in Russia,” he said. Yavlinsky believes that in the current situation the Social Democrats are still to find a niche for themselves some place between the left-wingers and the democrats.”

Yavlinsky doubts that a major Social-Democratic party can be created over the four years to go before the next elections. Moreover, he does not rule out early elections.

“Elections can take place any time, because the political system is unstable, and the political part of society must be prepared for that,” he said.

“Responsible decisions must be made among the democrats, where Yabloko unmistakably belongs,” he said, adding that while remaining a social-liberal party, it was glad to have any dialogue.

The leader of Yabloko is certain that the current system can be replaced only through elections, while protests will reach nowhere, the more so since the protest movement is not structured.

“An expression of protest by one and all – the nationalists, the Communists, the left-wingers, the right-wingers, just passers-by – all this is just wonderful, of course, but it has no political future,” he said, adding that participants in protest actions, opposed to the current authorities, have been unable to offer an alternative and the answer to the fundamental question – who is to take the place of this or that man, or this government.

Yabloko chairman Sergei Mitrokhin has said that the Social-Democratic vector is one of the main components of the Yabloko party.

“We would like to join the general Social-Democratic movement, the one that already exists, and to become more open to similar political forces and organizations,” he said.

This weekend, on June 16-17, Yabloko will hold its congress to discuss the strategy and tactics for years to come. Mitrokhin said that on Friday, June 15 the Social-Democratic faction of the party will meet in session to discuss the current agenda.