(28 Dec 1998) Russian/Nat
Bad sex, not bad management, is the cause of Russia's economic and political problems.
That's the message to Russia from the nation's most flamboyant politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
Renowned for promoting extreme political views such as reconquering the Baltics, invading India, exiling Jews, Zhirinovsky has now turned his hand to writing.
The book - "An A-Z of Sex" - and its author were the centre of attention at a top Moscow night spot Sunday.
Dolls nightclub in the centre of Moscow.
A place for Russians who can afford it to escape the turmoil of economic meltdown and political wrangling.
But not tonight.
Infamous hardline politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky decided to kick off his campaign for next year's elections the way only he knows how.
Sex sells the world over and Zhirinovsky reckons it can even sell politics in Russia.
For a nation weary of political posturing, Zhirinovsky has written a manual on postures of an entirely different sort.
The book - "An A-Z of Sex" - is Zhirinovsky's first move in the run up to parliamentary elections in 1999.
Sex, not ideology, is he believes the way to the nation's hearts and minds.
SOUNDBITE (Russian):
"Man needs something more in life. Man doesn't live for the factory whistle, nor for machine gun fire, nor for stocks and shares, nor for revolution and reform... It's our nature."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Zhirinovsky, nationalist politician and author
With his party the Liberal-Democrats flagging in opinion polls, Zhirinovsky has abandoned some of his old madcap rhetoric.
A little publicity goes a long way in Russia. And with the night club packed on a Sunday evening, he's pulling in the crowds.
His claim that bad sex lies at the heart of Russia's economic woes and political chaos may be tongue in cheek, but his allies say the new campaign technique is entirely serious.
SOUNDBITE (English):
"It's a new method of political technology. We must with those who will vote for us in next year's parliamentary elections. And I think that the young people will understand this book. It's more political than about sex."
SUPER CAPTION: Alexander Mitrofanov, Zhirinovsky's foreign affairs spokesman
The book seemed to appeal not only to the younger members of the audience.
For a nation starved under Soviet rule of any official mention of sex, guidebooks are a new phenomenon.
And one that appeals to the older generation as much as the young.
SOUNDBITE (Russian):
"In school, our generation new nothing about sex and were taught nothing about it. There were no books about it. We couldn't tell our children about it because we had the such old-fashioned views. So it's very important."
SUPER CAPTION: Tatyana Vladimirovna, housewife
The master of the public relations stunt, it remains to be seen whether Zhirinovsky's showman-like antics will add to his political potency.
Bad sex may be Russia's problem; bad taste may turn out to be his.
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