Teaching Comparative

Managed elections

The Washington Post also reported on the local elections near St. Petersburg.

Pro-Putin Party Builds a Wide Lead -- Regional Vote Also Showcases a New Kremlin-Backed Group

"The pro-Kremlin United Russia party had commanding leads in 13 of 14 regional elections held Sunday... while the new Fair Russia party, which calls itself an opposition grouping but is favored by the presidential administration, was making a strong first-time showing.

"In the last major electoral contest before national parliamentary elections in December, the Kremlin took votes across the political spectrum, leaving it almost certain to control the next parliament as it manages the current one through United Russia's overwhelming majority, analysts said.

"The future evolution of Fair Russia, which relentlessly attacked United Russia during the campaign, remained a subject of debate here. Some analysts suggested that it might yet be a vehicle to expand the country's shrunken political discourse and inject a little competition into an almost completely controlled environment. The party is positioning itself as a left-wing alternative to United Russia...

"As an officially approved and now viable alternative to United Russia, Fair Russia is likely to continue to attract business sponsors and new members from the fractured opposition in advance of December's elections, analysts said.

"'Those who couldn't find their place in United Russia or see no hope elsewhere will now start moving to Fair Russia,' said Alexander Ivanchenko, director of the Independent Institute of Elections, a nongovernmental organization...

"Small opposition parties such as Yabloko and the Union of Right Forces [which recently were major political parties] were pushed off the ballot in a number of contests and fared poorly where they were able to compete.

"Leaders of these parties dismissed the elections as a farce, citing their absence from the ballot and the overwhelming advantage in finances and media exposure enjoyed by United Russia and Fair Russia..."

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Labels: elections, parties, politics, Russia

posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:50 AM