Aleksandr Myatlev

Aleksandr Myatlev
File:Myatlev.jpg Myatlev in the 2014 Communist Party Congress
Born	Aleksandr Nikitovich Myatlev 5th of March, 1952 Chirov, Venadia
Nationality	Venadian
Occupation	Politician
Political party	Communist Party of Venadia
Spouse(s)	Kristina Myatleva
Children	Mirogod Myatlev, Afanasy Myatlev, Tereza Nikishina

Aleksandr Myatlev is a Venadian politician, Chairman of the Communist Party of Venadia, deputy of the Great Veche and chair of the Great Veche's Fishing and Shipping Committee and retired and celebrated naval officer of the Princely Navy. Myatlev is known for his charisma and sense of humour, as well as populist rhetoric, which has re-invigorated the communist movement in Venadia in the 21st century. Myatlev has held the constituency of Chirov Gorod since 2007, the first Communist Party politician to win a constituency since 1971.

Background and Military Career

File:MyatlevSubmarine.jpg

Myatlev in uniform from an interview in 1998

Aleksandr Myatlev was born to carpenter Nikita Myatlev and factory worker Avrora Myatlev, as the second of five children in the coastal city of Chirov. His father was a local Communist representative, which meant the family was under observation by the Department of Public Safety. He attended the Zhurov Primary School between 1958 and 1965, and the East Chirov High School between 1965 until 1969 where he excelled in his studies. Myatlev was accepted into the Naval Academy of Venagorod in 1971 after having finished his military service in the Army, and in 1974 became a junior officer aboard the KVF Smotrov nuclear submarine.

Due to his actions during the Blackout Crisis of 1979, where Myatlev through gross insubordination prevented the Smotrov from deploying its nuclear missiles against the Vesan Union, Myatlev was promoted to captain of the Smotrov, and was awarded the Motherland Medal, the second-highest military honour of the Republic of Venadia. Myatlev served in the Princely Navy until his honourable discharge in 2001 at the age of 48 and at the rank of Counter Admiral. Myatlev started working for Kuzmin Shipping Company shortly after his discharge, and in 2003 joined the Communist Party. Myatlev became a deputy to the Great Veche in 2007 upon which he quit his job.

Political Career

When Myatlev joined the Communist Party in 2003, it had reached its absolute nadir in terms of popular support. In the 2003 election, the Communist Party had gained a mere 1.6% of the vote, and had no deputies in the Great Veche, being the first time the party had failed to cross the electoral threshold since the late 30s. The CPV was by this point considered only slightly to the left of social-democracy, and the Socialist Party and Worker's Party had captured a significant amount of its former electorate.

Myatlev was elected as leader of the relatively small Chirov Tysyacha regional cell of the CPV in 2004. In 2005, he managed to lead the Communist Party to one of its greatest electoral victories in an otherwise subpar regional and local election, with 8.6% of the vote (the CPV in Chirov Tysyacha had attained a mere 2.4% in the 2001 regional election). In 2007 Chirov managed to become the CPV's sole deputy in the Great Veche, managing to win the constituency of Chirov Gorod, a seat he has held since. This gave Myatlev an enormous impetus for the 2008 Communist Party Congress, where he contested the position of chairman, and won with a narrow margin.

Myatlev managed to get the Congress to approve a somewhat more radical party platform, making the CPV a distinct choice from the Socialist Party. The 2008 Communist Party Congress approved a renewed commitment towards the nationalization of mayor industries, support for autonomy for minority districts, the abolishment of Venadian aristocracy, a reduction in focus on identity politics such as feminism and opposition to any further privatization of state companies. A minority of CPV members left the party in protest, with the majority joining the Socialist Party and Civil Rights Party, however a significant amount of old party members who had left in the 80s and 90s rejoined the party.

Myatlev contested the Presidential Election of 2010, gaining 3.8% of the vote, the best result for a Communist candidate since 1960. In the 2011 Great Veche election, Myatlev kept his seat with an increased mayority, and the CPV gained 3.9% of the vote and 14 deputies. In 2014, Myatlev was re-elected as party Chairman, and in 2015 the CPV managed to gain 16 deputies and 4.8% of the popular vote. In the 2015 Presidential election, Myatlev gained 5.5% of the vote, the best result of a Communist candidate since 1940.

In 2015, Myatlev became the Chair of the Committee of Shipping and Fishing in the Great Veche.

Political views

Myatlev describes himself as a 'democratic communist and Marxist', and belongs to the conservative wing of the party. Myatlev is a notable supporter of the Navy and Venadia's merchant fleet. Myatlev has led the party to recapture some of its roots, and have re-entered national politics as a parliamentary party of some influence, and has been dubbed the "Red Admiral". Myatlev has voiced support for the nationalization of industries, the rights of national minorities and preservation of the welfare state.

Myatlev is a strong critic of both social-democracy, but also of authoritarian communism. Myatlev has condemned single-party socialist countries, and is a noted defender of parliamentary and representative democracy. Myatlev is a strong ally of Venadian trade unions.

Aleksandr Myatlev has stated that his primary political inspirations are Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Antonio Gramsci.

Personal life

Aleksandr Myatlev married Boyaryna Kristina Aspidova in 1981 in a civil union, which caused Kristina to be disowned by her Great Boyar family for marrying a commoner. They had their first child in 1983, Mirogod, with the twins Afanasy and Tereza following in 1989. Mirogod also entered politics while at Venagorod State University in 2003, but for the Socialist Party, and in 2004 followed the breakway with the CRP. Despite the significant political differences, father and son remain close.

Myatlev is a fan of Venadian folk music, and reportedly plays the balailaika. Myatlev is a fan of hockey, supporting the Chirov Princes. Myatlev is also a fan of stand-up comedy, and comedy in general, and has even attempted the former himself. Myatlev has also had cameos in several comedy films, often portraying either a drunk or a naval officer. Myatlev had as of 2016 been in ten different movies, of which he had a speaking role in seven. He occasionally holds lectures at the Naval Academy of Venagorod.

Myatlev lives in an apartment in central Chirov.

Myatlev is a close friend of fellow deputy, Chirovian and chair of the culture committee Anna Pronicheva (LRP), with the Myatlevs and Pronichevas eating together on the second day of Christmas since 2009.