In the opposition

Our country is our rules

October 20, 2010 Harry Kasparov



The creation of the coalition of democratic forces “for Russia without arbitrariness and corruption” continues to cause rather hot debate. In the article “Political Squam” I outlined my views on this problem, tried to give a general political assessment of the process that began. However, it is equally important to discuss tactical nuances. Namely, the specific tasks that are set for any - that short -term, that long -term - association.

The idea of ​​a party project, which today the democratic coalition clearly fixes as its priority, is extremely doubtful from the point of view of practical expediency. Many, including me, believe that it is more logical to concentrate on the potential nomination of a single presidential candidate from democratic forces, which can be organized on the coalition platform.

The arguments “for” and “against” are clear. The speakers say that the presidential history is expensive, requires the collection of 2 million signatures instead of 45 thousand necessary for registration of the party, and for this reason it is technically much more difficult to realize and has much less chance of success. But, in my opinion, there is a certain discrepancy between the words of the participants in the coalition, claiming to refuse any negotiation process with the Kremlin, with political reality. Registration of the party, as well as the registration of an independent candidate for the president, completely and completely depends on the Kremlin’s desire. It is still completely incomprehensible what on earth such a desire will be demonstrated. But this impassable barrier today does not cancel the need to create ideological associations. Such actions are necessary for the future perspective, to build a new political space in Russia. But it must be understood that wide coalitions always play a decisive role in dismantling the authoritarian regime, and not the narrow -ideological associations, which in the search for political space for their actions should look for points of interaction with the authorities.

Perhaps no one will argue that the main issue of today is the legal chaos of the authorities, the complete unwillingness to observe even the rules they themselves. The struggle for building democratic procedures, consistent criticism and boycott of the farc elections, in my opinion, should be the most important distinctive feature of the non -systemic opposition.

The process of forming a party according to the current rules is a serious political and psychological concession to the Kremlin, since the opposition agrees that building a party structure should be carried out precisely according to the Kremlin patterns. While the congress on the nomination of a single democratic candidate can create a very interesting precedent. For the first time in many years, it can pass, even in limited space, the struggle of candidates with their programs according to pre -established rules. Straighten adherence to these rules, the consent to support a single candidate who will win in an honest confrontation will distinguish the actions of the opposition from the farc procedures of the authorities.

Such a concept was developed by the national assembly and implied the adoption of uniform rules of political behavior for different forces. This concept is now the most relevant. And to develop such rules, it is not necessary to retire in an ideological ghetto - it is much more important that these rules are adopted as a wider circle of political forces.

The concentration of the coalition efforts on the ephemeral party project, which in no way can affect the real state of affairs in the country and does not create any qualitatively different situation within the opposition, is not a step forward. Those who constantly pronounce as a spell of the word that the registration of the Democratic Party had to be engaged in yesterday, and accuses the critics of this process almost of playing along with the Kremlin, we must first answer the main question: how could this new political organization be able to participate in official political processes in the country? The lack of a clear answer to this question makes all other arguments meaningless. While the joint work to nominate a single presidential candidate may demonstrate the ability of leaders of different opposition organizations to negotiate among themselves and show their willingness to follow jointly developed procedures. And this is just the step that needs to be taken in order to have a moral right to criticize the lawlessness of the authorities that change the rules at any moment at their own discretion. There is no doubt that the chances of a single opposition candidate for registration are striving for zero. But a person who has passed even so limited males of selection will have legitimacy that today's power does not possess. In order to avoid reproaches in an attempt to promote my own agenda, I can tell you that I do not consider it categorically necessary to participate in such primaries, but ready to support those who will adhere to the unified developed rules.

Photo by RIA Novosti