| As head of the Altai Territory, Mikhail Evdokimov will have no time for jokes In the second round, the current governor of the Altai Territory, Alexander Surikov, lagged behind the current participant in the Full House television program, Mikhail Evdokimov. Evdokimov received 49.53% of the votes, Surikov - 46.29%. There has never been such a “funny” governor in Russia.
Not only does the artist Evdokimov have no administrative experience, he was not officially supported by any party. By the end of the campaign, almost everyone was entangled in Mr. Evdokimov’s political connections.
Initially, the comedian announced the support of his candidacy by President Vladimir Putin. A few days before the vote, a call from the Communist Party presidential candidate Nikolai Kharitonov to vote for the comedian appeared on Mr. Evdokimov’s website. But the Communist Party immediately disowned Kharitonov’s initiative. And local branches of all parties agreed on joint support for Alexander Surikov.
Moreover, on Friday the Russian president made it clear who he wants to see as governor of Altai. Television repeatedly showed Putin meeting with the presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Leonid Drachevsky, and the Altai leader, Alexander Surikov. From the broadcast, residents of the region learned that there was no trace of any conversations between Mr. Putin and Mr. Evdokimov about the governorship. “It’s clear to me that you are an active and working governor. And it’s clear to me who it should be,” the president said.
But the residents of Altai did not even understand such a “thick” hint and gave preference to the artist. This was partly due to the fact that for the first time real “non-Soviet” elections were held in the region. Alexander Surikov, who was elected for a third term, honestly admitted after the first round that he did not expect such political technological diversity. By the way, the former head of the region initially allocated only 500 thousand rubles for the campaign. But Evdokimov’s team made the most of the image of a new candidate in politics, but popular among the people.
According to the director of the Institute of Regional Problems, Maxim Dianov, the Altai Territory voted not so much for Evdokimov as against Surikov: “The authorities, including the Kremlin, which was more impressed by Surikov, underestimated the “fatigue syndrome” of voters. Altaians were ready to vote for almost anyone, just not for the current government. Moreover, under conditions of such administrative pressure, our people simply feel offended - it seems that they are not trusted. After all, the votes of those who voted against everyone in the first round went to Evdokimov.”
It is already approximately clear where we can expect pressure on the newly elected Altai chief. According to some reports, Mikhail Evdokimov is well acquainted with the owners of the Russian Coal group, which includes Rostovugol and several Kemerovo mines. The goal of the coal miners is to obtain from the regional administration profitable orders for the supply of coal, which for the last few years have gone exclusively to the Novosibirsk company RATM and the Barnaul-based Sibirenergouglesnab. It is clear that Rostov coal miners will want to take advantage of the “acquaintance”.
The struggle for the coal market is by no means the only problem that the new governor will have to face. According to State Duma deputy from the Altai Territory Vladimir Ryzhkov, the Kremlin “has no confidence that Mikhail Evdokimov will be able to take control of the situation, given that drug trafficking passes through the region, that there is a state border and strategic grain production.”
“All sorts of clowns began to come to power locally”
Egor STROEV, former speaker of the Federation Council, governor of the Oryol region:
- It seems that the federal government has left the situation in the regions and the local election process to its own devices. Due to the fact that the federal government began to look at the governor as a secondary figure, generals, showmen and all sorts of clowns began to come to power locally. In a word, power in the regions is becoming cheerful. I am sure that belittling the role of governors, especially of such large regions as the Altai Territory in particular, will come back to haunt the federal authorities.
Yuri EVDOKIMOV, Governor of the Murmansk Region:
- On the one hand, I am pleased that now there will be two governors named Evdokimov. On the other hand, the loss of such a smart, responsible and experienced business executive as Alexander Surikov cannot but cause deep regret. Surikov must be in demand by the federal authorities. The Altai Territory is not California, and the work of a Russian governor is much more difficult than the work of a governor in California.
The experience of my namesake was limited only by the framework of Full House. Let's see how the voters of the Altai Territory will laugh in the fall.
Regina DUBOVITSKAYA, host of the Full House program:
- It’s difficult for me to describe him in a few words. If I say that he is an intelligent, talented person and a good friend, this will not be a complete portrait of him. However, I am saddened that Full House has lost a wonderful artist.
Now I am perceived as a political strategist. Finally they began to perceive it correctly. I am sure that there are several people in Full House who, if they wanted, would win the elections. Viewers believe the participants in my program. There are so many idiots in our politics that any smart person can do a lot. But God did not offend Evdokimov with his mind.
Maxim GALKIN, artist:
— I am very pleased with the election of Mikhail Evdokimov to the post of governor. If now other famous comedians participate in regional elections, then their colleagues will always be given the warmest welcome. Now we, like the USA, have our own Altai terminator. Daria GUSEVA, Dmitry VINOGRADOV, Novosibirsk |
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