Russia’s national elections commission has officially registered the first two candidates set to contend against President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming March election. However, the dominance of Putin, who has held power for 24 years, remains unchallenged. The commission approved Leonid Slutsky from the Liberal Democratic Party and Vladislav Davankov from New People as the contenders, but neither is considered a significant threat to Putin’s longstanding rule.
Commission Greenlights Putin’s Insignificant Challengers
Leonid Slutsky, the head of the lower house of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, has been a vocal supporter of Kremlin foreign policies. Despite his party’s candidate garnering less than 6% of the vote in the 2018 presidential election, Slutsky’s approval for candidacy is symbolic rather than transformative. Vladislav Davankov, a deputy speaker in the Duma, represents New People, a party established in 2020 with a modest 15 seats in the 450-member chamber.
Limited Challenge from Parliamentary Parties
Both approved candidates hail from parliamentary parties that have historically aligned with Putin’s United Russia party. This alignment diminishes the prospects of a genuine challenge to Putin’s dominance in the upcoming election. The lack of formidable opposition from established political entities further solidifies Putin’s position as the frontrunner.
Communist Party’s Nominee Faces Registration Hurdles
While the Communist Party has put forward Nikolai Kharitonov as a candidate, the elections commission has not yet formally registered him. Kharitonov previously contested against Putin in 2004 but finished a distant second. The challenges faced by the Communist Party nominee highlight the bureaucratic hurdles and limitations placed on potential challengers in the electoral process.
Rejected Peace Advocate Illustrates Stringency in Nominations
Last month, Yekaterina Duntsova, a politician advocating for peace in Ukraine, faced rejection from the elections commission. Despite initial support, her nomination was denied due to paperwork errors, including spelling mistakes. The Supreme Court upheld the decision, emphasizing the stringent criteria independent candidates must meet under Russian law. Putin, running as an independent, must secure at least 500 nominations and gather over 300,000 signatures from at least 40 regions, further consolidating his political standing.
SOURCE: Ref Image from The Guardian
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