The weakness of the "strong hand"

The most obvious result of the 2018 campaign: it took place in the worst traditions of the election of Soviet times

Photo: TVC.ru

Volunteers on the salary

The current election campaign has revealed an amazing emptiness and the barrenness of the regime, which has existed for almost 19 years. All these years, tremendous money and efforts have been spent on creating all kinds of loyalist and protective organizations and movements. It would seem that the long -term fertilizer of this meadow was supposed to give violent shoots - hundreds of thousands of ideological supporters of Vladimir Putin, the constellations of volunteer organizations, the legions of the leaders of public opinion of all ages and social groups could make the fourth elections of Putin unforgettable in tension and scale. In the end, generations of citizens have already grown, who, if not born during the years of his reign, were at least formed as individuals. It would be logical to assume that it was they should become the main support of the regime - but the entire campaign is not built at all on the enthusiasm of the masses, but exclusively through hardware mobilization and the use of pseudo -reolns on salaries.

It cannot be said that Putin has no supporters. Moreover, there are a lot of them, and there is no doubt that these people would have put them without any additional stimulation and signatures for him, and they would have gone to vote, and even campaigning others - that many of them do. But the suspicious attitude of the authorities towards any civilian self -organization and initiative leads to the observed situation: the electorate loyal to Putin is subjected to the strongest pressure from the all kinds of authorities - simply because the organizers of total mobilization cannot reach the other segments of society, but maybe more easily and more reliable.

However, with sincere supporters, Putin also has problems of another plan: the most active of them profess much more radical views than inherent in the president and his environment. The propaganda storm of 2012-2014 brought to the surface such a specific audience that if you give it the opportunity to turn even wider, it will hit, first of all, by power itself. In this sense, it is characteristic that neither the NOD nor the “Anti -Maidan”, nor the heroes of the New Russia of all species were completely unclaimed in this campaign, although in 2014-2015 it seemed that they were on a political rate - such allies needed authorities almost no less than ideological opponents.

Based on all of the above, it is not surprising that Putin’s campaign at all levels is engaged in either officials directly, or completely controlled and funded by the authorities of the organization. Therefore, the signatures in support of Putin’s self-nominated nominated were collected not by some beautiful and disinterested supporters of the course he held, not spiritualized youth, but funded from the NGO budget, as the organization “Voice” convincingly proved in their report. In a normal situation, the publication of such a report would be the reason for the scandal and even withdrawal from the elections of the candidate, in whose support it is not clear who, how and for what money he collected signatures - but the situation in our country knows what, and the CEC will predictly do nothing about this.

The meaning of the elections is not their result, but the process itself, which must demonstrate the validity of the slogans about universal unity around the existing power and complete trust in it. Therefore, as in Soviet times, the turnout has been declared the most important indicator

In addition, the credibility of official versions has not been interested in anyone for a long time: the loyal electorate is unlikely to find out the details from the report of the Voice, for him the version with volunteers, which themselves stood in crowded places and collected signatures, will remain the base. Anyway, not only the opposition, but also loyal citizens have not been waiting for cleanliness and transparency for a long time, so what is the difference - who, to whom and how did they collect signatures if the winners are not judged?

Three weeks before the day of voting, you can begin to summarize the campaign. And the most obvious result is that the 2018 presidential campaign takes place in the worst traditions of the Soviet era. As then, the meaning of the elections is not their result, but the process itself, which should demonstrate the validity of the slogans about universal unity around the existing power and complete trust in it. Therefore, as in Soviet times, a turnout is declared in the most important indicator, which must become a beautiful framing for the result known to everyone.

The constitution is not a hindrance

For the first person, the entire election struggle is completely reduced to participation in routine management measures, and its highest point will not be active communication with the Russians throughout the country, but the solemn reckoning of the Epistle in the arena, before the Elite gathered there in extended compared to conventional events of this kind of composition.

The story with the message is also very characteristic. The mandatory annual message of the President prescribed in the 84th article of the Constitution by the Federal Assembly was initially read in the first half of the year, outlining the vectors of the executive and legislative power. Gradually, it shifted for the fall, and in 2017 the event prescribed in the basic law did not take place at all - whether it is necessary to remind that neither the Constitutional Court nor the federal assembly left without a message did nothing to the president on this subject, showing delicacy and understanding.

This itself is an important gesture, demonstrating the conventionality of constitutional norms against the backdrop of the current needs of the president: it does not rules the constitution, this constitution exists in the form and to the extent that he is ready to observe it of his own free will.

Numerous, but atomized and weaned to be initiative, supporters of the authorities, directed and managed by the authorities at the place of work, are not a guarantee of the inexhaustibility of the authorities, but the main and constant threat to it

The current election campaign shows us a new state of the supreme power in Russia and its self -awareness. It consists in absolute confidence that power is, first of all, by the power and bureaucratic apparatus, and all other citizens of Russia will not go anywhere and voluntarily or forcedly humble themselves with any decisions that are made by irremovable and unexplored leaders. Therefore, they have not grown any loyal civil society for so many years - it simply does not need, without it it is easier and more convenient, as without a full -fledged parliament, and without competitive elections.

But in this sad state of affairs there is a timid glimpse of hope. Numerous, but atomized and weaned to be initiative, supporters of the authorities, directed and managed by the authorities at the place of work, are not a guarantee of the inruff of the authorities, but the main and constant threat to it. The history of Russia teaches that in critical situations the first administrative apparatus ceases to work the first, so no matter how much the same Soviet government wins in all possible elections, in her last moment, the inhabitants quite loyal to her could not help her.

* Political scientist, permanent Columnist NT

The author’s opinion may not coincide with the opinion of the editorial office