Commentary 02/12/2013

The Civil Society Development Fund decided that there emerged too many parties in Russia. Renowned economist and member of YABLOKO’s Political Commttee Sergei Ivanenko spoke about the importance of the reform of the party system for Russian voters.

First of all, the party system depends on the voting. Today, the main problem is how to conduct elections, rather than how to build up parties. The fact that today the citizens of Russia do not consider elections be serious event presents a major problem. It does not matter how many parties will be there: five or five hundred. What matters is how the authorities are going to modernise the electoral legislation. If we speak about spoiler parties, then we are not scared or worried of this, but what does worry us is that the present party system does not meet the needs of the society. The society does not want a simulated system and artificial entities. Mr. Bogdanov [who participated in several elections so that to simply show that to show as if there were some competition] has once again made an application for a political party and this once again demonstrates that the party system does not interest people.

If there are honest elections, no fraud or imitation, then people will vote. This can finally change the political system in Russia.

Virtually no voter turnout at the elections is connected with the fact that people do not believe in elections and that they can change the political system in the country through elections. We need to return the trust of the people, restore the institution of elections as a mechanism and a key method for the change of power.