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Presidential elections are to be held in Russia on March 15. Even after the elections are so close, the people of Russia do not seem to have any interest in the elections. Because Vladimir Putin has been in power for 24 years. However, there have been many protests in Moscow regarding the war with Ukraine and anger among people against Putin has also been seen inside Russia. But despite all this, there is hope that Putin will become President for the fifth time. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which monitors elections around the world, said that this time its election observers have not been invited by Russia. This organization prepares reports to ensure fair and independent evaluation of the electoral process.
Although there is an elaborate system inside Russia, but in reality it is the President i.e. Putin who runs it. Despite being the largest country in terms of area, there is no enthusiasm for elections like India. According to Russian law, any 21-year-old Russian citizen can stand in the elections, but no one has been able to defeat Putin in the last 25 years. Let us try to find out why it is so difficult to defeat Putin.
Who is Putin competing with?
This time three candidates are contesting against Putin in the elections. Slutsky from the nationalist Conservative Party, Nikolai Kharitonov, a Communist Party candidate, and Vladislav Davankov, a businessman. All three candidates are supporters of the attack on Ukraine. Potential candidates who opposed the Ukraine war were Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova, but their applications were rejected by the commission.
Russia’s political system
Like India, Russia also has two houses in its government. In Russia, MPs are called the Federal Assembly. Like India, it also has two parts. There is Council of Federation i.e. Upper-House and State Duma i.e. Lower-House. The Federation Council, together with the State Duma, makes decisions on drafting laws, reviewing them, and implementing laws. Apart from this, it also has the power to reject the military rule imposed by the President. Despite all this, the real power in Russia remains with the President. The President is considered to be the most powerful person in Russia.
Putin changed the law to remain president
68-year-old Putin has been in power for more than two decades. Earlier, the tenure of the President in Russia used to be 4 years. Putin did this for 6 years in 2012, apart from this, by signing the new law brought in the name of election reform in 2021, Putin had cleared the way for him to remain the President till 2036.
How will the elections be held this time?
Voting in Russia will start on Friday and end on Sunday. For the first time in Russia, voting will last for three days instead of one day. For the first time in the country, voters are also being given the option of online voting. This facility is being provided in 27 Russian regions and Crimea. Crimea was annexed by Moscow to Russia illegally 10 years ago after winning the war with Ukraine.
Voting even in areas won in Ukraine war
This time Russia is also conducting voting in the four areas acquired after carrying out full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Russian Army has not even been able to completely control some of these. This step of Russia has been condemned by Ukraine and Western countries.
