Politics in Russia

Political Parties and Elections

Important political change

• Democratization of political system– introduction of competitive elections– shift from a single-party system to a multiparty

system

Transformation of party system

• Communist Party of Soviet Union used to dominate state and social institutions– no competition for political office– no mechanism to ensure accountability– party authority couldn’t be openly questioned

• confusing array of political organizations have run candidates in elections since ’93

New political parties

• government efforts at tightening the conditions for party formation and registration– effect on small parties– effect on party coalitions

• suppress democratic representation?• bring order to a chaotic and fragmented

party structure?

Russian political parties

• generally form around a prominent individual

• are generally associated with prominent political figures– increased political fragmentation

• do not have a firm social base or stable constituency

• a major cleavage: economic policy

4 main categories of parties

• reformist parties– democracy and market

• centrist parties– “parties of power”

• communist parties– Communist Party of the Russian Federation

• nationalist parties– Liberal Democratic Party of Russia

Reformist parties

• liberal democracy– dismantle political framework of socialism– guarantee individual freedom– rule of law

• market economy– open and free market– property rights

• Union of Right Forces and Yabloko

Communist Party of the R.F.

Communist Party of the R.F.

• Major successor party to the CPSU– oppose radical market reforms– oppose privatization programs– oppose Western influence

• most party-like of all parties– substantial organizational base– well-defined electoral following– large (but old) membership (~ 500,000)

Communist Party of the R.F.

• CPRF– rather stable electoral

share– but unlikely to win

parliamentary majority or presidency

• CPRF leader Zyuganov– 1996 and 2000

presidential elections

Yeltsin campaign in 1996

• Public opinion polls– 24% supported Zyuganov– 8% supported Yeltsin

Economic reforms

• Macro-economic stabilization– structural adjustment

• cut state spending• increase taxation• end price controls• open trade

– “shock therapy”• all “shock” but no “therapy”

• Privatization

Centrist parties: a paradox

• Surveys indicate that voters would favor policies and values at the political center– e.g. social democratic party

• but no one has succeeded in creating a major, lasting centrist party– social welfare state– political freedoms– private property rights

Centrist “parties of power”

• Our Home is Russia (1995 - )– pro-government– centrist– moderately reformist– then Prime Minister headed it– never succeeded in defining a clear program– became a coalition of officeholders

Unity (“United Russia”)

• Formed 3 months before 1999 election• active assistance from

– then President Yeltsin– then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

• received 23.3% of the vote in 1999

Power transition in 1999-2000

• State Duma tried to impeach President Yeltsin but didn’t gather enough votes

• Yeltsin announced that he would resign• Presidential election• 2000-03-06• Vladimir Putin

“parties of power”

• Parties depend on official support• avoid building independent bases of

organizational support• policy positions are vague• vanish when the major sponsors lose

power• Unity would disintegrate if President Putin

were to lose power or popular support

Social bases of party support

Electoral rules for State Duma

• Similar to Germany’s hybrid system• each voter has 2 votes

– 1 for a candidate for that district’s seat– 1 for a registered party on the party list

• half of Duma (225 seats) elected from single-member districts

• half of Duma (225 seats) selected by parties according to vote share (> 5%)

1999 State Duma election

37.60%

12.60%

11.50%

9%

4.30%4%

21%

222

51

36

3743

94

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Votes Seats

2003 State Duma Election

others

Union of Right Forces

Yabloko

Rodina

Liberal Democrats

Communists

United Russia

Pro-government majority

• President Putin and his government could generally count on majority support

• pro-government deputies depend on the Kremlin for political support

• little effect on the makeup of government– administrators with no partisan affiliation– almost none were drawn from parliament

Putin and Stability

• Popular and effective politician• Has strengthened institutions despite

lingering social economic problems• Has built up the power of the Kremlin and

other parts of the central government• Has undermined aspects of democracy• without removing basic freedoms or

eliminating competitive elections.