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

37

43

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.