Vladimir Zhirinovsky
Zhirinovsky, 71, has touted some bizarre views as a career politician. When he ran for the presidency in 1993, he pledged Russian men would get cheaper vodka, Russian women would get better underwear and the nation would rebuild its empire.
During his 29-year political tenure, he vowed to create a dictatorship and reduce crime through summary executions, as well as to expand Russia’s borders to include Alaska and Finland and to blow radioactive waste into the Baltic states, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Zhirinovsky leads the far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.
In 2002, the nationalist used coarse language to attack President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and women in general.
He called political rival Ksenia Sobchak “a whore” after she doused him with water during a challengers’ debate broadcast Feb. 28. Polls give Zhirinovsky nearly 6% of the vote.