Russian poll results challenge technocratic approach

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Candidate Selection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Liberal Democrats ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance Regional elections held on September 9 brought the United Russia party its worst results in a decade. President Vladimir Putin has already embarked on his annual cull of governors, whose interim successors can normally expect trouble-free election the following September. Impacts New interim St Petersburg Mayor Alexander Beglov may not run in 2019, requiring careful candidate selection in Russia's second city. United Russia will struggle to rebuild its image after losing control of three regional assemblies on top of four governor-level disasters. As opposition parties are virtually out of the picture, the Communists and Liberal Democrats will partly fill that space.

Putin will stand back from Russia's Duma polls

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Communist Party ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
The State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Force ◽  
Popular Support ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject The Russian president's options for winning September elections. Significance The September 2016 elections to Russia's parliament, the State Duma, are the first to coincide with a severe economic crisis since President Vladimir Putin came to power. The authorities are determined to prevent social discontent escalating into the kind of protests seen after the last polls in December 2011, which unsettled Putin's plans for re-election in March 2012. Popular support for Putin remains high, and 'loyal opposition' parties such as the Communists are blaming economic problems on Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instead. Impacts Signs that the recession is slowing will reduce the scope for a protest vote. Putin is keen to get EU sanctions lifted by July, not least for the electoral benefits. Buoyed by growing popular support, the Communist Party may evolve into a more active political force.

United Russia party back in favour with no new ideas

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Training School ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Policy Ideas ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections ◽  
Meaningful Role ◽  
Party Congress

Subject The United Russia party's search for a meaningful role. Significance President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed the central role of the governing United Russia party but instructed it to improve its performance. He was speaking on day two of a December 7-8 party congress held in the aftermath of reverses in regional elections and falling popular support. The party duly promised to mend its ways with a training school to raise standards and new ethics procedures, but offered no new policy ideas. Impacts Putin snubbed United Russia by being re-elected as an independent but has turned back to the party in hope of reinvigorating it. United Russia has no collective voice on foreign policy issues such as Ukraine or Western sanctions; it must stick to its assigned role. The Kremlin will watch United Russia's regional governors closely and assess their ability to contain local grievances. If United Russia is failing, the Kremlin may have to examine alternative mechanisms for picking Putin's successor.

Kremlin tightens grip on Russian regional governance

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Identity Politics ◽  
Regional Governance ◽  
Local Identity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Comprehensive Reform ◽  
Regional Leaders ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections

Significance The legislation is the most radical and comprehensive reform of centre-regional relations since Vladimir Putin became president in 1999. Formalising and consolidating a steady process of political centralisation, it further shifts powers from the regional heads and assemblies to the president and the federal executive. Impacts After years of attempts to forge a Russia-wide ethos, local identity politics will become more visible. The September regional elections are another opportunity to pre-select regional leaders before they are approved by voters. Regional leaders removed and replaced ahead of the elections may include the Communist head of Khakassia, Valentin Konovalov.

Russian president may regret 'owning' pension reform

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Communist Party ◽  
Pension Reform ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Current Leadership ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections

Significance Opposition to the retirement age increase is widespread, with frequent street protests, Communist successes in the regional elections and talk of a referendum. President Vladimir Putin initially stayed out of the debate but finally stepped in on August 29, offering some concessions but backing the thrust of the reform in a television address to the nation. Impacts The pension reform controversy shows the limits to Putin's vision of a purely technocratic, apolitical government. The issue also highlights the deficiencies of state-controlled narratives when people do not want to listen. The Communist Party has a rare chance to grow into a stronger force but is unlikely to seize this opportunity under its current leadership.

Prospects for Russian politics to end-2017

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Late Summer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
Popular Protest ◽  
Russian Politics ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections

Subject Prospects for Russian politics to end-2017. Significance President Vladimir Putin is likely to announce in late summer that he will run for re-election in March 2018. Regional elections in September will provide indications of strategies for boosting turnout in the presidential contest. Electoral activity amid ongoing economic problems creates scope for popular protest, which the authorities can contain, and for competition in governing circles that will become more visible in Putin's next term. Hopes that US and EU sanctions may ease or end have all but disappeared.

Electoral Performance and Mobilization of Opposition Parties in Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-254
Author(s):  
Andrei Semenov
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Capacity ◽  
Contentious Politics ◽  
Collective Actions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Street Politics ◽  
The Media ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections ◽  
Electoral Performance ◽  
Opposition Parties

Abstract This paper documents the patterns of opposition parties’ engagement with street politics in Russia. It claims that in the electoral authoritarian regimes like Russia under Vladimir Putin, public protests remain a viable instrument for reaching out to the constituencies and eliciting concessions from the regime. In addition, collective actions signal commitment and strength and help to overcome the media blockade usually imposed by the state. However, in order to be a successful player in contentious politics, parties have to develop organizational capacity. Using the data on more than 7000 protest events that took place in Russia in 2012–2015, I show that the regional party branches with higher electoral returns in federal and regional elections organize more protest events controlling for other possible determinants of mobilization. The Communist Party remains the major mobilizing force covering a large array of issues and demands. However, the loyal opposition—LDPR and Just Russia—and the liberal parties like Yabloko and People’s Freedom Party also consistently stage the public protests with their electoral performance on the regional level being associated with the level of their protest activity. Overall, the study shows that the organizational capacity of the opposition is necessary though insufficient condition for the parties to engage with street politics.

Russian vote shows regional grip but shifts in Moscow

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Elections ◽  
Power Struggles ◽  
Municipal Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mayoral Election ◽  
Political Factions ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Regional Elections

Subject Different lessons from regional elections in Russia. Significance Two different trends emerged from the September 10 local elections. All the regional governors approved by President Vladimir Putin, most of them recent interim appointees, were elected without serious competition. At a lower level, the opposition Yabloko and United Democrats scored surprisingly well in municipal elections in Moscow. Impacts Opposition leader Alexey Navalny may have lost ground by distancing himself from the Moscow elections only to see opposition wins. The mayor of Moscow showed a subtle approach to the 2018 mayoral election by welcoming the city's new political diversity. Confirmation of Putin's choice of governor in Sevastopol is unlikely to end power struggles among local political factions.

Brexit will distract from UK fight against poverty

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Domestic Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Liberal Democrats ◽  
The Government ◽  
Policy Failures ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance Income inequality, of which poverty is a symptom, was one of the underlying grievances that likely contributed to the Brexit vote. However, the government may struggle to address poverty. Impacts Rising poverty could reinforce the wider narrative about the neglect of the domestic policy sphere by the government. Opposition parties such as Labour and the Liberal Democrats are likely to benefit if issues of social justice gain salience for voters. If the Conservatives drop in polls as a result of domestic policy failures, the chances of a leadership challenge to May could increase.

Uganda’s opposition will gain ground despite poll loss

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
The Government ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance The opposition has rejected the results and is preparing legal challenges to Museveni’s victory. Impacts NRM internal cohesion will fray as Museveni becomes a more polarising figure in national politics. The NRM will increasingly try to co-opt opponents to neutralise the growing momentum and collaboration among opposition parties. The government will likely launch developmental efforts to tackle youth unemployment and thus avert unrest.

Modi’s party will be relaxed about upcoming polls

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Congress Party ◽  
Chief Minister ◽  
Bharatiya Janata Party ◽  
National Profile ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance Each of these states except Punjab has a government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Punjab is one of just three states with a chief minister that belongs to India’s main opposition Congress party. Impacts A poor showing by Congress would further reduce its leverage with other opposition parties in talks over forming a broad anti-Modi alliance. Victory in UP would enhance Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s national profile. Election campaigning will likely lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

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