Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a member of the State Duma since 1993, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and six-time Russian presidential candidate, has taken positions on many political issues through his public comments, his presidential campaign statements, and his voting record. The LDPR defined its members as being individuals who do not separate their personal interests from those of the motherland, a "creator capable of carrying out the priority tasks of the motherland aimed at preserving peace and raising the standard of living of all the population of our vast country."