1. Political Parties and Elections
Politics in Russia
Political Parties and Elections

2. Important political change
Democratization of political system
introduction of competitive elections
shift from a single-party system to a multiparty system

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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

7. Reformist parties liberal democracy market economy
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

8. Communist Party of the R.F.

9. 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)

10. 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

11. Yeltsin campaign in 1996 Public opinion polls 24% supported Zyuganov
8% supported Yeltsin

12. Economic reforms Macro-economic stabilization Privatization
structural adjustment
cut state spending
increase taxation
end price controls
open trade
“shock therapy”
all “shock” but no “therapy”
Privatization

14. 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

15. Centrist “parties of power”
Our Home is Russia ( )
pro-government
centrist
moderately reformist
then Prime Minister headed it
never succeeded in defining a clear program
became a coalition of officeholders

16. 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

17. Power transition in
State Duma tried to impeach President Yeltsin but didn’t gather enough votes
Yeltsin announced that he would resign
Presidential election
Vladimir Putin

20. “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

22. Social bases of party support

23. 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%)

25. 1999 State Duma election

28. 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

29. 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.