The electoral (mis)fortunes of Gennady Zyuganov, leader of Russia’s largest Communist Party, continue to be of some modest interest.

He managed to position himself as the main opposition to President Yeltsin back in 1996, but did not win. He fizzled in 2000 and has fizzled again now. Maybe he should ‘reconsider his position’?

One reason for Zyuganov’s failure is (one hopes) his weird retro-policies:

  • "In order to halt rising prices, the state has to be the owner of the natural resources!"
  • "Equipment and fertilizers must be delivered to the countryside!"
  • "Schools and roads have to be built!"
  • "Safety must be provided for each family!"

Er … Yes. And?

More significantly, his supporters tend to die regularly and in large numbers. His appeal is primarily to older disadvantaged voters. And Russia’s dire demographics are such that that number declines at a brisk rate: some 100,000 a month.

Russia’s stunningly bad traffic accident statistics  – over 300,000 people killed in the last decade – play a part. It would help if more people there could drive in a straight line through tunnels.