Blog post by Emilia Slabunova, 28.03.2016

I would like to congratulate all the members of the Central Electoral Commission with the beginning of work. They will face a very serious and complex problem: [they need to] restore public confidence in the institution of elections.

A real democracy should replace the imitational democracy. I hope members of the Central Electoral Commission will have enough courage to succeed in this responsible mission. If elections are not held in an open and honest manner, then the socio-economic and administrative crisis may grow into an acute political crisis. The responsibility of the Central Electoral Commission for this is particularly high.

I hope that the new composition of the Central Election Commission will make every effort so that all the territorial and local electoral commissions would work in a very open and transparent manner. In our country the institute of elections is in need of a very serious rehabilitation. This can be implemented only through openness, honesty and transparency.

Ella Alexandrovna [Pamfilova, ex Russian Commissioner for Human Rights and new head of the Central Electoral Commission,] has great experience in human rights, public and state activities. With such experience coupled with high motivation, desire, will and courage, a lot can be done. I as an acting MP of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia had the opportunity to see how quickly she responded to requests and provided assistance, in particular, in the situation with the removal from office of Galina Shirshina, Mayor of Petrozavodsk elected by people.

Although I have no illusions and know that the system will be trying break and subordinate the Central Electoral Commission by all possible means in order to get the desired result. But I hope that the experience obtained at the post of Commissioner for Human Rights will allow Ella Pamfilova to at least raise questions and make them public, so that public institutions could switch to their solution.

I am glad that a woman has become head of the Central Electoral Commission. Men’s style of politics has exhausted itself. Theirs is power-based politics. Women’s approach is very important in a complex and ever-changing environment that requires flexibility, communication and the coordination of positions.

First published at https://www.facebook.com/100008652827364/videos/1552779108353835/