As Russia prepares for the next presidential election, all eyes are on the candidates vying for the country’s highest office. Even if the outcome seems inevitable: the re-election of outgoing President Vladimir Putin.
Scheduled between Friday March 15 and Sunday March 17, Russian voters are preparing to vote against a backdrop of ongoing tensions surrounding the conflict in Ukraine, which Russia started two years ago. Despite the appearance of a democratic process, the outcome appears predetermined, with Putin poised to secure a fifth term.
Even though eight candidates are officially in the running, the systemic opposition tolerated by the Kremlin is not expected to pose a major challenge. Five parties, including United Russia, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Communist Party, the New People and Just Russia, presented candidates without requiring citizens’ signatures. Meanwhile, other political figures faced strict requirements, such as collecting 100,000 to 105,000 citizen signatures to run for office.
Leading the pack is Vladimir Putin, an independent candidate. His campaign, seemingly a mere formality, has an overwhelming number of signatures, guaranteeing his place on the ballot. At 71, Putin is poised to extend his rule until 2030 and beyond, after winning a landslide victory with 76.7% of the vote in 2018.
Putin faces candidates like Leonid Sloutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, who aligns closely with the president’s nationalist agenda, and Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, whose lackluster candidacy reflects his party’s tacit support for Kremlin policies.
Meanwhile, New People’s Vladislav Davankov offers a youthful alternative, arguing for economic reforms and modernization while maintaining an ambiguous position on the Ukraine conflict.
However, the absence of figures like Grigori Yavlinsky and the rejection of candidates like journalist Ekaterina Duntsova highlight the limited scope of real opposition in Russia. policy.
Anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, imprisoned and banned from running, is particularly absent from the electoral battle, but remains a powerful symbol of resistance against Putin’s regime.
As the presidential election unfolds, it is clear that Putin’s victory is all but assured. Despite the superficial appearances of democracy, the Kremlin’s grip on power remains unchallenged, leaving little room for real political competition. For Russian citizens, the elections are a stark reminder of the entrenched nature of authoritarian rule and the limited prospects for meaningful change.
Originally published in The European Times.
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