Former government minister Lena Zilberman is to make an unexpected comeback to frontline politics. Confirming she will run to replace Dimochka Yakushkin in the House of Deputies, Zilberman, 55, resigned from her own Rogan seat in 2011 having suffered a miscarriage. She later split from her husband, prominent businessman Gregory Karanovic, with whom she had been together for some 10 years. Ms Zilberman said today to reporters that she was “excited, honoured and nervous” about returning to politics – having worked in a variety of private roles since she left the lower house. Saying she felt that it was “the right time”, her return now depends on winning Yakushkin’s Gorodok seat in a special election on November 3rd. Yakushkin will contest the Amar governor election on the same day – having decided to leave the House of Deputies after serving for 16 consecutive years.
Zilberman has been rumoured to have been seeking a return to the top echelons of Polasciana’s politics for sometime – with many having commented that her government career had been cut short by her personal circumstances. Some speculated that she may run to replace Katrina Fischer as Governor of Béspura or herself stand for the governorship of Amar which Yakushkin will now seek against Mayor of Arvi Taras Illyushin. Close aides say Zilberman finally decided to return to the House of Deputies after Yakushkin requested she seek to replace him in the lower house – with many suggesting she will now be lined up for a fast-track return to government. Having previously served as a minister between 2008-2011, Zilberman left the government at the request of Prime Minister Koruin Gruaman after she publicly challenged his leadership and stated that she would seek the Centrist candidacy for president in 2011. Having entered the race as a favourite, analysis showed that she did not have significant name recognition beyond her own party and that many considered her too inexperienced to become president. Her supporters at the time suggested that she had been the victim of sexism and discrimination – whilst others attempted to draft former Prime Minister Marina Yanaka into the race to deflect from the discussions of Zilberman’s gender. Her campaign never launched – with her resignation from the lower house acting as her withdrawal from the election.
The former minister spearheaded many economic reforms as part of the 2008-2011 Centrist government – as well as serving as Minister for Education, Science and Healthcare. Considered a highly capable minister and politician, many had encouraged her to return to government under Ludvig Fedorov’s administration – with several long-serving ministers such as her close-ally Krill Serbin volunteering to step aside for Zilberman to be able to return to the lower house. Ultimately, it has been Yakushkin’s resignation – whose own Gorodok seat neighbours Zilberman’s former one in Rogan – that has enabled her to return. Illya Ellanovic, Zilberman’s successor in the latter representative division said she welcomed her predecessor’s expected return commenting that, “Lena is an extremely talented and capable politician who I had the honour of replacing. I am excited by the potential of being able to work with her, next to her and potentially for her” – increasing speculation that Prime Minister Asta Dahn will appoint Zilberman to the cabinet should she win the special election. Gorodok is the most southern seat in Amar – bordering Preaisk and Béspura. Mr Yakushkin first won the seat narrowly against the Unionist Party in 2003, but has built up a strong majority. Ms Zilberman’s former Rogan seat is a stronghold for the Coalition.
The Unionists have yet to announce their candidate for the special election in Gorodok – but Mr Yakushkin will have a tough battle to continue his political career in the Amar governor race. Mr Illyushin is seen as an overwhelming favourite to replace Fyodor Shchavelev.
