Mikhail Kapustov

Mikhail Kapustov Михаил Капустов
File:Kapustov.jpg
President of Venadia
Incumbent
Assumed office 16th of May, 2005
Prime Minister	Borislav Norin Lazar Zhvikov
Preceded by	Leonid Aslanov
Personal details
Born	Mikhail Yakovich Kapustov 16th of October, 1959 Khandagrad, Venadia
Nationality	Venadian
Political party	Socialist Party
Spouse(s)	Kristina Kapustova Marta Lilova (div. 2001)
Children	Karina Kapustova Nikita Kapustov
Military service
Allegiance	File:VenadiaFlag.jpg
Branch/service	Army
Years of service	1978-1994
Rank	Colonel

Mikhail Kapustov (Venadian: Михаил Капустов) is the current and 21st President of the Republic of Venadia. Kapustov currently serves his third and final term, and enjoys extraordinarily high approval ratings, successfully defeating the Liberal-Republican challenger in the 2015 Presidential election despite the Socialist Party's otherwise lackluster performance. Kapustov is the fourth Venadian President to serve the maximum of three terms, and the first Socialist President to do so. Kapustov is a veteran of the army, having served for sixteen years, primarily in the conflict zone of Undreshistan, and have received numerous military decorations.

Kapustov is renowned within Venadia for his speeches. While the mainstream parties of Venadia are often characterized as technocratic and bureaucratic, Kapustov has a very populist style, and his speeches tend to last for a while, including dialogue with the listeners. Kapustov hosts a weekly radio program that since 2013 has been available as a podcast, titled "An Hour with the President" where he answers questions from Venadian citizens regarding policy, international events and his personal life.

Background

Kapustov was born to a working-class family in Khandagrad in 1959. His father Yakov Kapustov was a foreman at Svistunov Tractor Manufactory and leader of the local trade union cell, while his mother was a cleaner. Kapustov had three older siblings, and one more would follow in 1962. He was described as an active child, and a natural born leader, but had problems paying attention in school and was often disciplined for pranks. Despite this, he maintained a moderately well performance throughout middle and high school.

Kapustov was drafted into the armed forces in 1978, and when his service ended in 1980 he decided to sign up as a voluntary soldier. His initial service was in White Venadia, before he was transferred to Undreshistan in 1983, where he saw combat against Undreshistani communist and islamist insurgents. Kapustov had an exemplary military service, and when he was honourably discharged in 1994 he left at the rank of colonel. Kapustov has been described as brave and intelligent by soldiers who served with him, and he has numerous medals.

After leaving the military, Kapustov entered politics. Kapustov was elected into the Great Veche as an independent for South-West Venagorod in 1995, but joined the Socialist Party in 1998. He initially campaigned on veterans' rights, and was re-elected as the Socialist Party's candidate in South-West Venagorod in 1999. Kapustov quickly gained a following both within and outside of the Socialist Party, and in 2005 successfully won the SPs nomination for the Presidential election, which he won in the second round with a narrow majority.

Presidency

As President, Kapustov has marked himself as an internationalist, being behind several treaties with neighbouring and regional nations, and an avowed defender of liberty and democracy. Kapustov has been very involved in domestic policy, an arena that Venadian Presidents usually have little influence on, being a key supporter of bills that have advanced the rights of historically discriminated minorities, such as the LGBT community and ethnic minorities. Kapustov has also pushed for higher military spending internally, particularly in regions with active terrorist organizations such as White Venadia and Undreshistan.

Kapustov is widely regarded as a liberal, both within the economic sphere and the social one. Under Kapustov's presidency, bills have been signed into law that has institituted same-sex civil unions with the same rights as opposite-sex marriages, anti-discrimination laws against sexual and ethnic minorities have been passed, several state-run enterprises have been partially privatized and the Venadian regulatory bodies have been streamlined and modernized. While the President has no direct authority on these matters in Venadia, Kapustov has used his position to lobby for these measures. In foreign affairs, the primary responsibility of the Venadian President, Kapustov is a force for compromise and cooperation. Venadia has entered numerous treaties, especially within the regions, to open up borders and trade, as well as to cooperate on security matters such as counter-terrorism and to advance human rights globally.

Political Views

Kapustov is a self-declared liberal social-democrat. He supports the welfare state and for the state to maintain a regulatory function in the economy in order to combat excessive social inequality, but in contrast to many other socialist politicians in Venadia also supports leaving as much as possible to the market. Kapustov is a strong supporter of civil rights, particularly the rights of minority groups, and an avowed defender of democracy. However, Kapustov also supports the continuation of Venadia's system of conscription, and has refused to comment on the rights of transsexuals (who remain a marginalized group in Venadia).

Kapustov is also a strong supporter of the military, and believes that democratic and liberal nations must maintain a strong and large military force in order to defend themselves from extremists and totalitarians. In international affairs, Kapustov believes Venadia must maintain close relations with liberal democratic nations, and looks past ideological and historical concerns, and thus have become a firm proponent of cooperation with the Vesan Union. Kapustov has, however, been firmly opposed to self-determination of ethnic minorities within Venadia, and has been a firm defender of national sovereignity and the unitary state.

Personal Life

Kapustov has been married twice, first to the author Marta Lilova in 1991 at the age of 32 and later to fellow politician Kristina Stepashina in 2003. Kapustov only has children with his second wife, Marta Lilova being barren. Kapustov has refused to comment if this was a reason for their divorce, and both have appeared in public together without issue later. Kapustov has later stated the divorce was a 'benevolent affair' and they remain friends. With Kristina, Kapustov has two children, Karina and Nikita.

Kapustov is a supporter of FC Khandagrad.

Kapustov is a known whiskey-lover, particularly of traditional whiskey from the Khandagrad hinterlands, particularly 15-year old single-malt Olendolina whiskey, which has become somewhat of a trademark for Kapustov.

Kapustov is a fan of hard rock and folk rock, and has attended the Venagorod Rock Festival every year since 1998. Since 2011, Kapustov has opened the festival by playing the drums with the popular Venadian folk-rock band YAGA.