The Internet exploded with another informational scandal. Photos of General Valeriy Zaluzhny alongside Serhiy Kivalov, the controversial former head of the Central Election Commission known since the Orange Revolution, have appeared online. Some users are sharing these photos sincerely, but the majority are clearly doing so at the command from Bankova. Political technologists are trying to present this as compromising material aimed at turning away the patriotically minded part of the electorate from Zaluzhny. But will this strategy work?
Why doesn’t the compromising material work?
The main argument of critics is that Zaluzhny defended his dissertation at the Odessa Law Academy, the longtime head of which is Kivalov. However, this fact is unlikely to damage the general’s reputation. The Academy is indeed one of the best law universities in the country, and the connection with it does not necessarily imply political deals.
Political history has repeatedly demonstrated that if a myth is created around a leader figure, compromising material simply does not stick to them. An example is Viktor Yushchenko, who was attempted to be discredited with various scandals during the Orange Revolution, including the “Gongadze case” and his signature under an appeal condemning the protests. But this did not prevent him from winning the elections. A similar situation may repeat with Zaluzhny.
Will the general become the president?
If Zaluzhny decides to run and remains physically healthy, his victory in the presidential elections seems almost inevitable. Regardless of the outcome of the war, the narrative will always be in his favor:
- If Ukraine wins, it will be credited to the “iron general”.
- If the situation unfolds differently, the blame will fall on the political leadership that removed Zaluzhny from the position of the chief commander.
What will Zaluzhny be like as the head of state?
History has seen various examples of generals coming to power. De Gaulle in France, Eisenhower in the USA, Mannerheim in Finland – all of them have left their mark in history as strong political leaders. But there are also other examples – infamous dictator regimes that, coming to power on a wave of popular support, transformed their countries into authoritarian states.
Will Zaluzhnyi become a symbol of stability and revival, or will Ukraine get a new military dictator? This question remains open. One thing is certain: the political history of Ukraine does not tolerate stagnation. And even if today Zaluzhnyi is a national hero, the future may still bring unexpected surprises.
Conclusion
Attempts to discredit Zaluzhnyi are unlikely to yield the expected results. War breeds new leaders, and those who are currently trying to manipulate public opinion may find that their methods no longer work. Will Ukraine witness the triumph of a general on the political front? Time will tell.
