Ivan Mezyukho: ‘The Republic of Crimea has not seen such a quiet election campaign before’
About how the Crimean Peninsula was choosing the deputies to the State Duma
Two Russian regions — Crimea and Sevastopol — for the first time in contemporary history have participated in the parliamentary elections of the Russian Federation. The Peninsula, for many years being a part of the political space of Ukraine, has made the next big step for the integration to Russia. The results have been predictable — the victory belongs to the ruling political party. However, the position of Zhirinovsky's party has been surprisingly strengthened, but the Communists' — weakened. At the same time, in Sevastopol the representative of the Party of Growth had a very good chance to enter the State Dum. Read more about the last elections to the lower house of the Russian Parliament on the Crimean Peninsula in the column, written specially for Realnoe Vremya, of a scientist and our columnist Ivan Mezyukho.
Without intrigues and struggle
The elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the seventh convocation have recently finished. For the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, they mean almost complete integration of the Peninsula in the political space of Russia. Why almost? Because the final political integration of new subjects of the Federation will happen when the Crimeans will participate in the presidential elections in 2018. Nevertheless, given the high level of popular legitimacy of Vladimir Putin on the Peninsula, we can say that Crimea and Sevastopol are now fully integrated into the political system of Russia.
This election campaign in the Republic of Crimea was held without the traditional for the region intrigues or active struggle between the political parties. Usually, the parliamentary elections in the Republic, when being as a part of independent Ukraine, were accompanied by abundant use of black PR-technologies, dirty stuffing information, provocations and attempts to recognize the results of the popular vote fraudulent. The recent election campaign was an example of high political culture in the region. The Republic of Crimea has not seen such a quiet election campaign before.
'This election campaign in the Republic of Crimea was held without the traditional for the region intrigues or active struggle between the political parties.' Photo: sevzakon.ru
The lack of a full-fledged agitation campaign of the Communist party, the LDPR and A Just Russia, as well as systematic work with voters of the ruling party and its connection to the rating of the President, made the victory of the United Russia unconditional in the Republic of Crimea in all three districts, both on the party list and in the struggle of the single-seat candidates for the deputy seats. So, the United Russia received 68,58% in the district No. 19, 74,29% in the 20th district, and 75,01% in the federal single-seat district No. 21.
After the elections in the Republic, the Communist party turned out to be only third, cedening the second place to the LDPR, which even less than the Communists conducted a proper election campaign, but exploited the rating of Vladimir Zhirinovsky — his policy is popular on the Peninsula. By the way, the Communist party in Crimea and Sevastopol once again concede second place to the 'falcons of Zhirinovsky'. For the first time it was at the local elections in 2014 but the second time can be called already a tendency.
A Sevastopol intrigue
The elections in Sevastopol cannot be called quiet or even predictable like in the Republic of Crimea. The outbroken conflict in the city between political groups naturally resulted in a fairly aggressive campaign. Under current law, the city-hero can have only one deputy-majorer, what made the vacant seat of a parliamentarian more expensive in all senses of the word. At least, three out of nine candidates had a real chance to win in the majoritarian district. Dmitry Belik, the winner of this race, had an obvious advantage by nominating from the United Russia. Vladimir Komoyedov of the Communist party was interesting for the local voters because he previously was the commander of the Black Sea Fleet. The businessman Oleg Nikolaev from the Party of Growth the entire race was positioned as a comrade of Alexey Chaly, the known leader of the Russian Spring.
'Dmitry Belik with a result of 33.24% won this battle, and his opponent Oleg Nikolaev had to take a back seat of the second place with 23,92%. Vladimir Komoyedov took the third place and received only 17.35%.' Photo: белик.рф
At some point, all three candidates had an equal chance to succeed. A particularly fierce fight broke out between Nikolayev and Belik. There was everything: black PR, provocative articles and leaflets, the articles in the media and loud statements. I must say that the elections in Sevastopol was marked by unstable rankings of candidates in the majority constituency.
Nevertheless, Dmitry Belik with a result of 33.24% won this battle, and his opponent Oleg Nikolaev had to take a back seat of the second place with 23,92%. Vladimir Komoyedov took the third place and received only 17.35%. The Communist party, without properly thinking out of its election campaign, missed a real chance, on the background of confrontation of Nikolaev and Belik, to win in the Sevastopol district.
Four political parties jumped the 5% barrier, they are: the United Russia (53,78 %), the LDPR (15,36 %), the KPRF (12,07 %) and A Just Russia (5,09 %). The leading rating of the United Russia in Sevastopol was saved only by linking the party to the name of the President and the fact that the regional party group of the ruling party was headed by the head of the Crimea Sergey Aksyonov, who has a high level of support not only in the Republic but also in Sevastopol.
'The leading rating of the United Russia in Sevastopol was saved only by linking the party to the name of the President and the fact that the regional party group of the ruling party was headed by the head of the Crimea Sergey Aksyonov.' Photo: sevastopol.er.ru
Management reshuffle
The results of the elections in Crimea and Sevastopol mark a new phase of personnel changes in the management system of the regions. The Council of Ministers members and the deputies of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, occupying in the parliament leading positions, entered the Duma, great reshuffle is expected on the Peninsula.
Sevastopol, being on the verge of a new active round of the interpolitical confrontation between the supporters of Alexey Chaly and other groups within the local branch of the United Russia, probably, also expects personnel changes in the Legislative and Executive power. Besides, along with the elections to the State Duma, in the hero-city there were held the elections to the councils of municipal districts, this means that personnel changes will affect the lower levels of management in Sevastopol as well.