Russian Presidential Elections

March 2, 2008

When we hear the word election, we think of candidates, races, platforms of differeing opinions, and choices. On March 2^nd Russians elected, almost unanimously, their new president, Dimitry Medvedev. However, the election was not marked by any of the above.

I couldn’t name you the communist party candidate’s name for example, he has received no publicity. Billboards all over town advertised the Unity Party, Putin’s party. They read: Choose the Unity Party, Choose Putin. It was clear that choosing Medvedev meant choosing Putin, though he is now the Prime Minister rather than President. It is as if no other parties exist. The Unity party is marked by a resurgent nationalism, highly centralized power under Putin, and 70% of its members (and government officials) are former KGB employees.

In this year’s election there was one choice for president: everyone knew it and few seemed very concerned. Why should they be? The economy is showing greater growth than ever before and Putin has centralized power so that the average Russian feels “safe” and “secure” with the stabilization and growth that has resulted. Our school set up polls and everyone went through the process as so many actors on a stage. I think the fact that there even IS an election makes everyone feel as if they are living in a democratic system.

Who rules Russia? The answer is clear, whether he is President or Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.

Check out Time Magazine’s Man of the Year issue of 2007: Vladimir Putin