Zhirinovsky, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), is one of the four presidential candidates running for Russia's March 2 polls. The state-run VTsIOM pollster forecast earlier this month that Zhirinovsky would receive 7% of the vote. The Kremlin front-runner in next month's presidential elections, Dmitry Medvedev, has the backing of 63 % of voters.
"My manifesto...is based on what has already been achieved in other countries. There are no fantasies," the LDPR leader said, adding that his aim was to encourage the nation. "I alone can give inspiration," he boasted.
The politician said in his election manifesto that he would grant every citizen, including minors, $4,000 from the country's gold currency reserves.
"The money is there. Let's distribute it now, so much for waiting," Zhirinovsky said.
He also promised to raise the minimum pension, to freeze food prices till late this year, write off household and utility debts, switch the army to a voluntary force and grant amnesties to those imprisoned for minor offences.
Zhirinovsky said with confidence that he would be able to curb corruption, including through halting university entrance examinations where corruption is thriving, he said, with more vacancies than entrants.
"My policy, my program is better than those proposed by the other three candidates. People want me," Zhirinovsky said.
The ultra-populist politician said he was certain that thousands of his supporters would take to the streets and rejoice if he wins on March 2 citing "full support and a chance of winning."
Reports said last week that Zhirinovsky had received a total of 140 million rubles ($5.7 million) in campaign funds and had already spent 48 million rubles ($2 million).
According to a poll, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov is expected to receive 7% of the vote. The leader of the tiny pro-Western Democratic Party, Andrei Bogdanov, is predicted to receive 1% backing.
