Blog post by Alexander Gnezdilov, 29.09.2016

According to the official data, YABLOKO lost 1,200,992 votes [in the election]. Where have they gone, and why?

United Russia has lost 3,843,909 votes since 2011 (and it is according to the official figures only), and it has lost about 16 million votes since 2007.

The Communist Party lost 5,579,668 votes. And even if you add here the result of the spoilers from The Communists of Russia – the loss will still exceed 4 million voters.

LDPR, which almost took the second place, lost least votes of all – “only” 747,453 votes. “Only” 750 thousand votes!

A Just Russia lost 5,420,005 votes, over 5 million, almost two thirds of its voters.

In total, 13 million people less than 5 years ago came to the polling stations.

What follows from this? Maybe that we can lull ourselves calm by the general decline and not ask any questions? No. Hereof it follows that we should look for the root of the problem and, at the same time, the key to its solution.

The problem did not lie in the fair, lawful and [truly] patriotic stance of YABLOKO on [the problem of annexation of] Crimea. It was not in YABLOKO’s determination to compete against President Putin in the [presidential] elections in 2018. It was not in a recognition of the obvious fact that a peaceful and legitimate change of power was required for changing the erroneous policies. It did not reside in a firm commitment of YABLOKO to the European choice, which had determined both the history and culture of our country.

If the root of the problem was in the YABLOKO’s difference from other parties, we would have lost votes, while the other parties, by contrast, would have gained them. But we observe the opposite. This increase of general mistrust to the present policies, the entire ruling elite and the whole political class.

Should we sprinkle ashes on our heads for our difference, out uniqueness, and ask ourselves: where we have been enough unique? Where do we still look like other parties? Where have we failed yet to become a truly attractive and alternative to the present State Duma party for the majority of the voters? Where have we yet failed to be closer to the people than other parties?

If we honestly ask ourselves about this, find (most likely unpleasant) answers and become better, then we will return people’s trust and win.