Kasparov in '08?
For many years Garry Kasparov has been active in Russian politics. He has also
been a frequent contributor of political editorials to the Wall Street Journal
since 1991. Early in 2004 he pushed things into another gear by becoming the
chairman of the Free Choice 2008 Committee, a group opposing the anti-democratic
activities of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who was today reelected in a
landslide with virtually no opposition.
In the past week Kasparov has penned hard-hitting articles in the Journal and
the UK Sunday Telegraph. (The WSJ is paid subscription only; the Telegraph editorial
is
here.) In both he attacks the Putin administration for jailing detractors,
controlling the media, and rigging the elections. He also calls upon the Western
democracies to support democracy in Russia by criticizing Putin and threatening
action.
Kasparov's political activities were cast in a new light in an interview
today by America's ABC News, one of the largest media organizations.
The interviewer seemed far more interested in a potential Kasparov 2008 presidential
candidacy than in the activities of the Free Choice 2008 Committee.
To be honest, so are we! Kasparov deflected the questions about his own aspirations
in the way of potential candidates everywhere. "Again … so far I
see my goal as to guarantee Russian people in four years time will have a choice.
If it happens then I will consider my next step."
This isn't the first time the words "President Kasparov" have been
put together. A completely objective pundit, Garry's mother, once made a case
that Russia could do worse than putting her little boy in charge.
It would definitely make the old debate about "strongest chessplaying
politician ever" completely moot. Kasparov would easily top the pawn-pushing
politicos usually trotted out: Andrew Bonar Law, Che Guevara, and Marshal Tito.
We'd say 2008 is a bit early, but as Kasparov himself pointing out in another
interview on the topic, at 40 he's a little old in the chess world but still
quite young for politics!
See our recent stories on Kasparov in Russian politics here
and here.
