A unified election day took place across Russia’s 85 federal subjects on September 8. Sixteen regions elected governors, while the remainder elected their municipal and city parliaments.
Election took place against the backdrop of a difficult socio-economic situation in the country as well as substantial changes in general mood among the citizens, which have long been recorded by sociologists.
Public anger over more than five years of falling incomes and an unpopular hike in the pension age along with other cannibalistic reforms stubbornly executed by the government caused a severe distrust to power which had resulted in descent of the Russia‘s ruling United Russia (UR) party’s support.
Actually, the results of this campaign have vividly demonstrated new political trends originated by election 2018 in Khakassia, Vladimir region, Khabarovsk territory and Primorye with shocking results for the local authorities.
In order to prevent a repeat of last year’s protest vote situation (where citizens in several regions voted against the government’s official candidates, so they couldn’t falsify the vote), this time potential competitors (CPRF in particular) were prevented from joining the race and were not allowed to register as candidates under far-fetched pretext.
Instead of making changes in home politics the preferences had been given to various malicious technologies like “municipal filters”, spoiler – parties, candidate – namesakes, electronic voting etc.
After election the UR hastened to triumphantly declare itself as the winner of election campaign, but despite grand rhetoric by its Headquarters we assess it only as an attempt to distort the reality.
Our candidates were the second in 10 out of 12 regions with an improved result in comparison with the previous election. We have increased the total number of seats in municipal parliaments of thirteen regions leaving behind Liberal Democrats and Just Russia party. Hence, in total, after Election 2019 the CPRF has significantly increased its presence in parliaments of all levels.
But the most severe defeat has been suffered by the ruling United Russia party in Moscow. Pro-presidential party has lost one-third of its seats in the Moscow parliament despite many “election tricks” in use.
This time round, all of its Moscow candidates rebranded as independents in an apparent effort to distance themselves from their party, whose popularity is at a more than decade-long low. Hopefully to the credit of Muscovites they could make a correct choice which has resulted in our 13 (were 5) seats out of 45, and this is the best result in recent years.
In conclusion it’s worth saying that election 2019 once again has demonstrated the declining popularity of the United Russia party along with social and economic policy pursued by the government. And on the contrary, national support for the CPRF and left forces is on the rise in Russia.
CPRF CC
International Department