The leader of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), Leonid Slutsky, has called for the country to double its population within the next 50 years. Speaking in the State Duma, Slutsky emphasized the importance of increasing Russia’s population in order to address the demographic challenges facing the country. He stated that by 2073, Russia should have a population of at least 290 million people.
Slutsky acknowledged the difficult situation faced by the government, particularly with planned cuts to social protection expenses in the state budget for next year. However, he emphasized the need to prioritize programs and expenses related to addressing demographic issues, even with reduced funding for social items in the budget.
In order to achieve the population growth target, Slutsky proposed the creation of favorable conditions in rural areas to prevent young people from leaving their villages. He argued that it is necessary to populate lands across Russia and focus on creating agricultural holdings and improving mortgage rates, rather than relying on migrants to solve the demographic issue.
Slutsky highlighted the significance of maintaining the Russian world and civilization, stating that a decline in population would have negative consequences. He stressed the importance of taking action to ensure that the ability of women to pursue professional development is not hindered by motherhood. Slutsky proposed introducing measures that would allow women to combine higher education with motherhood, as well as reviewing and adapting the current remuneration system to strike a balance between professional development and family responsibilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also acknowledged the challenging demographic situation in the country. He noted a decrease in the number of children being born compared to the previous year and ordered the introduction of federal programs aimed at stimulating birth rates. Projects have already been launched in the regions of Novgorod, Penza, and Tambov to address this issue.
The LDPR leader’s call to double Russia’s population within the next 50 years highlights the importance of addressing the demographic challenges faced by the country. By implementing measures to incentivize population growth and ensuring that women have the opportunity to pursue both education and motherhood, Russia aims to secure its future and sustain its population. This will require collaboration between the government, social programs, and the wider society to create the necessary conditions for achieving the population growth target.
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