This is most clearly demonstrated by hasty appointments
of governors in a large number of regions. The "filters"
built-in into the nomination of governors made it virtually
impossible to nominate candidates from the opposition. In
addition to the presidential recommendations, there were adopted
extremely tough requirements to collection of signatures from
municipal deputies in support of [nominated] candidates. A
formally possible nomination of alternative candidates at
a time when the vast majority of municipal deputies are representatives
of the ruling party or its affiliated groups in reality results
in the creation of an insurmountable barrier for the opposition
or independent candidates in entering the election race.
A number of regional legislative assemblies where the positions
of the United Russia are particularly unstable hastily pass
laws fixing the most stringent of the proposed regulatory
frameworks for the candidates from other parties.
The Bureau of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO
demands from the State Duma to revise the rules limiting participation
[of non-United Russia candidates] in gubernatorial elections
and respect the constitutional guarantees of a passive suffrage.
The Bureau of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO
demands from regional legislative assemblies not to adopt
laws envisaging toughening or imposing restrictions on the
norms for gubernatorial elections.
It is obvious that only the candidates recommended by the
federal authorities will be able to participate in the gubernatorial
elections. This imitation of gubernatorial elections does
not differs much from appointment of the governors by the
President.
This law along with the new laws on political parties and
parliamentary elections artificially increases the confrontation
between the government and the society against the backdrop
of toughening the responsibility of citizens for protest actions.
Inability to participate in elections and legitimate forms
of protest encourages citizens to use subversive strategies,
illegal radical forms of protest with violence.
These actions of the government are threatening the future
of the country and provoke violent protests.
Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chairman
Notes
- [The parliament of] the Novgorod region has already passed
in the first reading the law "On elections of the Governor
of the Novgorod region". The draft law envisages the
following requirements for nomination of candidates for a
governor post:
- signatures of deputies from representative bodies of municipalities
and (or) elected in the municipal elections of heads of municipalities
in the territory of the region. The number of such signatures
should amount to 10 per cent of the total number of deputies;
- the number of signatures of such members and (or) heads
of municipalities should be 10 per cent of the total number
of the deputies of representative bodies of municipalities
and urban districts;
- a candidate must be supported by the deputies of representative
bodies of municipalities, municipal districts, and (or) heads
of municipal districts or urban districts elected in the municipal
elections in at least three-quarters of municipalities and
urban districts;
- a deputy by supplying his/her personal data can support
only one candidate, whereas his signature must be notarized
which is reflected in a list published by a regional electoral
commission;
- an electoral commission verifies all the signatures in
support of the candidate.
In the Amur Region, the United Russia party intends to adopt
a norm envisaging that 7.5 per cent of municipal deputies
signatures are required for nomination of candidates for the
governor post.
See also:
For
the Return of Gubernatorial Elections
Regional
and Gubernatorial Elections
Regional
and Municipal Elections, 2011-2012
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