Russians are persecuted and imprisoned for having a different opinion from the Government and many have left their country behind fleeing the war. But the president of the Russian Senate believes that what everyone needs is a Ministry of Happiness. “A department that will review all decisions and laws to see if each new rule or new government decree will make people happier.”

Valentina Matvienko, president of the Russian Federation Council, said during a speech at the recent educational conference Znanie (which means knowledge but was recently created to instill patriotic values in youth) that she came up with the idea in 2019 during a trip to the United Arab Emirates. This country has even created tools that measure benchmarks associated with happiness.

The author of the idea believes that one cannot wait: “Right now, a law on general happiness!”. Matvienko, 74, has some things in his favor to be happy: a fortune of approximately 9.9 million euros. He also acquired a villa in Venice. The war, however, has placed it under sanctions. The West is now a distant paradise and at the same time a “decaying enemy” for the creatures of Putinism.

Born in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, she was ambassador to Malta and Greece and also governor of Saint Petersburg. His son, Sergei Matvienko, also found happiness early: he was appointed vice president of the Bank of Saint Petersburg at just 30 years old.

The proposal to create a Ministry of Happiness comes at a time when the war is lengthening and so are the sanctions, while the Russians are increasingly in favor of a peace agreement that will end all this.. Russia's Levada Center reported that nearly three in four Russians said they would support President Vladimir Putin if he decided to call for an end to the conflict.

The president of the Senate follows the example of other countries that adopted these government happiness projects in the past. The UAE's move was preceded by Venezuela, which created its own ministry in 2013.. In India it has been implemented at the regional level.

Matvienko, who has chaired the Russian Federation Council since 2011, believes that now it is his country's turn. In 2022, Russia ranked 75th in the world ranking for self-reported happiness, tied with Tajikistan. Finland topped the list and all European countries were ranked happier than Russia.

Matvienko is a political survivor, who has prospered in two very different countries. He rose through the ranks in the Soviet Komsomol youth during the USSR. When Boris Yeltsin left office she was proposed for the 2000 elections that Putin won, but she refused to run. The first time she wanted to run for governor of St. Petersburg, Putin asked her to withdraw and she obediently did so. In the shadow of Putinism he came to power over Russia's second city in 2003.

These days he is seeking critical mass for his idea of happiness. “So far, I have a small group that supports this. You are welcome to join. I believe the time will come when we will create a Ministry of Happiness in Russia.” The war, for her, does not seem to be an obstacle.