Why is Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 25 years, an independent candidate in Russia’s presidential elections?

Noblesse Dusabe

From Friday, March 15, 2024 to Sunday, March 17, 2024, Russians are called for the presidential election, an election that is not really an election, no real opponent having been allowed to run, the outcome seems already known because without any surprise, this election will lead to the re-election of Vladimir Putin for a fifth term, the third in a row.

The authoritarian Russian leader, president or head of government for a quarter of a century, is running to remain at the head of the country until at least 2030.This vote is a “sham” of a presidential election, as the Kremlin is stifling any alternative to the outgoing president. It comes a month after the death in custody of the main opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, in murky circumstances.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has amended the Russian constitution to stay in power until 2030 or even 2036

This new election should allow him to remain in power until 2030. He will then be able to run again to stay in power until 2036. Four years ago, a constitutional amendment gave him the right to serve up to four consecutive presidential terms, while the Russian constitution theoretically allows only two.

The other three candidates are not competitors

Alongside the current occupant of the Kremlin, three candidates are running in the presidential election: Nikolai Kharitonov, Leonid Slutsky and Vladislav Davankov. As members of parties represented in the Russian Parliament, they did not need to pass through the filter of the collection of sponsorships. But their presence gives a false impression of political pluralism, while these three men are far from being opponents of Vladimir Putin.None of them oppose the continuation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES

(1)Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (independent candidate)

Collecting more than 300,000 signatures was a formality for the Kremlin tenant. His team says the president collected ten times as many, even though the collection points, set up here and there in the public space, often seemed empty. Vladimir Putin, 71, is expected to easily win another six-year term, which will allow him to stay in the Kremlin until 2030 (or even 2036 if he is still a candidate next time). Elected with 76.7% of the vote in 2018, the leader is expected to fill up once again.

(2) Leonid Slutsky (Liberal Democratic Party)

At the head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LPDR), a nationalist and conservative party, Leonid Slutsky, 56, has absolutely nothing to reproach the president, quite the contrary.

• “I dream of a victory of our military operation [in Ukraine], not a victory against Putin,” he said in late December, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
• “Our task is to ensure that the election of the head of state is as legitimate as possible,” said LPDR MP Sergei Leonov, who is happy to take on the role of foil for his candidate. Anyway….
• “All those currently registered support [Vladimir] Putin to one degree or another,” a deputy of the candidate also admitted to the web media Vidsboku at the end of January.
• “Vladimir Putin is the most influential politician on the planet.” Leonid Slutsky, LPDR presidential candidate

(3) Nikolai Kharitonov (Communist Party)

At the age of 75, Nikolai Kharitonov (already a candidate twenty years ago, in 2004 (13.8%)) was chosen to defend the traditional candidacy of the Communist Party. This former agronomist ran a collective farm in the Novosibirsk region for more than twenty years, before participating in the creation of the Agrarian Party and then joining the Communist Party. Nikolai Kharitonov was also given the rank of FSB colonel in the 2000s. One of his nephews was killed in combat in Ukraine last July.

This lackluster candidacy is of little interest, because the Communist Party actually supports the Kremlin’s policies.  It’s hard to believe the success of his campaign, even though it’s called “Victory”.

• “I can’t say I’m better than Putin,” he said in late December, according to Russian media outlet Sota Vision. 
• “I don’t rule out that he himself could campaign for Vladimir Putin as the campaign progresses,” a Russian analyst was quoted as saying by a Novosibirsk daily.

(4) Vladislav Davankov (New People)

At 39 years old, Vladislav Davankov is the youngest of the candidates. His party, New People, initially abstained during the vote on the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk independence. But he later retracted his statement and supported the invasion of Ukraine. His position on the war is now ambiguous, to say the least. 

• “Would I want peace at all costs? No,” he said at a meeting in St. Petersburg, according to the Russian news site Fontanka.
• “There is nothing to be gained from political criticism. These are methods from another era,” he replied, as shown on Telegram by the RBK media group.

Vladimir Putin’s main opponent, Alexei Navalny, died before the presidential elections

Vladimir Putin’s main opponent, anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, died on February 16 in the Arctic penal colony where he was imprisoned. A few days earlier, he had called for demonstrations during the election. Everyone is convinced that he was liquidated to ensure that Putin’s victory was complete.

Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 25 years, is a candidate to succeed himself and is sure to win his 5th term!

How do you see this kind of electoral travesty in many countries ruled by dictators? Is it really worth doing so when the main opponents are either killed or blocked, the constitution and institutions manipulated?

Sources: This article was first published by prof Hakizimana Maurice

_{HAKIZIMANA MAURICE}

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