Not quite direct elections - what's the point?

A bill was introduced to the State Duma, which provides for the rejection of direct elections of the governors, which were returned only this year on the initiative of then President Medvedev. The authors of the bill are deputies Igor Lebedev (LDPR), Mikhail Starshinov ("United Russia") and Leonid Levin ("Fair Russia").

In accordance with the text of the bill, the head of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation may not be elected by direct voting of the population of the region, but by deputies of the Legislative Assembly. Candidates will be nominated by the President on the proposal of parties, "the lists of whose candidates were admitted to the distribution of deputy mandates."

The uninterior deputy Mikhail Starshinov explained to Publicpost that the meaning of the bill is not to refuse, but to "provide the region with the possibility of choosing." “There are no concepts of refusing at all, there is an offer to supplement - to provide such an opportunity to the subjects of the Russian Federation. They want to - let them choose popularly, they won’t want to - please. Let the party, in the Duma, in the regional parliament choose candidates. If they don’t want to, let it be popular,” the deputy noted.

According to Starshinov, the initiative is caused by the fact that "in many regions and at many sites where we discussed the idea itself, it finds good support." “Many regions would love to refuse excessive politicization of the election struggle with unpredictable consequences. Unfortunately, there is also this,” the deputy added. Starshinov admitted that he had repeatedly "thought about whether the head of the subject should be a politician, maybe it should be a business executive."

Direct elections were canceled by President Vladimir Putin in 2005 under the pretext of strengthening the power vertical after a terrorist attack in Beslan. Then, according to the law, the party, which received the majority in the regions, represented the president at least three candidates from which he chose one. Further, the candidacy was returned to the regional parliament. The direct elections of the governors were again introduced by the decree of President Dmitry Medvedev. The law entered into force in June 2012.

Alexey Mitrofanov, State Duma deputy, who supported the bill:

“There will be no cancellation of direct elections, there will be an option, if the region wants to, it can be elected from among the candidates represented by political parties in the subject. Others can be by the technology that was. The bill is caused by the specifics of different regions, primarily the Caucasian. We have no elections in Dagestan and under Yeltsin. The region itself can determine: this is once Dagestan, Karachayevo-Cherkessia. They The elections will be chosen from among the deputies, they were preceded by direct elections quite complicated in a number of regions. It shows that in some regions it was not necessary to hold elections.

Igor Lebedev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Head of the Supreme Council of the LDPR:

“We have proposed a bill with colleagues that allow the regions to independently decide how the governor should receive his post: through direct elections or through a parliamentary purpose. Moreover, when I say the“ appointment ”, it is, in fact, about the active participation of parties. The party proposes three candidates. First of all, we are talking about the Duma factions of the parties. The president chooses three candidates. One of them. One of them. One of them. and appoints the regional parliament - according to the results of the parliamentary vote.

The bill allows you to take into account the specifics of the region. Today it is necessary - to minimize interethnic and intercultural contradictions. Yes, and interregional too - what to hide a sin. As well as the contradictions between the regions and the federal center.

I’ll add from myself that all these “nuances” and contradictions will disappear by themselves as soon as Russia moves from the national-territorial division to the provincial. But for this we are fighting and will fight. In the meantime, a “damping” measure is proposed, which will allow Russia to resist the collapse. ”

Mikhail Tula, political scientist:

“These deputies are people affiliated with Surkov. The deputies closest to Surkov introduce this bill. It has high chances of success, but it all depends on the position of Volodin. Volodin has been conflicting with Surkov for the past two years, so he may not support it. Moreover, the election of governors now only in words are elections. In fact, this is also an appointment, a fraudulent procedure for endowing the Kremlin appointments by an electoral rating.

- Why does Surkov need this?

Surkov believes that it is better to control the situation. He does not agree at all that the last year has happened. And I would like to return everything to the position in which political life was with him.

- Will there be a cancellation of a direct vote with a blow to the image of power?

Of course, for the reputation of power, this will be an ugly act. On the other hand, this is not the only case. We see how we canceled the slander and insult from the Criminal Code, and then we were actually returned. Although it is clear that slander and insults apply only to opponents of power. If the power itself is publishing a black PR for opposition, there are never proceedings for this. It all depends on how much Volodin wants to go along this path, because so far these are not Volodinians, but obviously Surkovites.

- And what is Vladimir Putin to be inclined?

Putin does not like direct elections, in the 90s he had experience, after which he hated these elections. Purely psychologically, Putin is much more pleasant and convenient to cancel the elections and act with pure purposes.