Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas
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KGV still rules in Russia - 2007/12/13 17:57
The engine of democracy is the majority’s will as reflected in the polls. However, such a simple tool is not only a mark of democracy but of populism and demagoguery as well.
The fact of Hitler being elected by the people is a sobering historic reality. Such is the case 60 years later with Chávez and Morales in Latin America.
Most recently, Vladimir Putin’s thumping election victory on December 2nd is a further proof that elections often fall short of democratic principles.
Vote in itself is not enough when the ensuing government follows a strategy towards authoritarian or even totalitarian rule. Furthermore, it does not mean much when the ballot process depends on who is allowed to vote, who selects the candidates or drafts the questions, and what is happening during the campaign period beforehand. Such are the questions that should be addressed facing the recent events in Russia.
The election itself faced a large military and riot police mobilization. Buses ferried voters from far-flung regions to cast multiple ballots one polling station after another. Smaller parties were further limited in their ability to include their candidates in the ballots. Larger parties had very limited or no access to the press and mass media. And the entire machinery of a now perceived authoritarian state –including the courts, the prosecutors and security agencies– was pressed into service to maximize the turnout. One case in point was the way that Mr Kasparov, a most famous and leading member of the opposition, was prevented from meeting with his followers in order to organize his party and aspirations.
However, Putin did not need this paraphernalia to ensure his party’s victory on December 2nd. His own popularity is high enough to get the desired positive results. There were other real motives. A simple democratic victory would not have given him an overwhelming majority in the parliament (duma) to get full control of the legislative body – enough to become Prime Minister with nearly dictatorial powers.
As a matter of fact, on Monday December 10th the outgoing President picked Dmitry Medvedev, a 42-year-old lawyer from Mr Putin’s native St Petersburg, as his successor to become the next President in March. The next day Mr Medvedev showed just how grateful he is with Mr Putin, saying that the outgoing President should become the new Prime Minister
Mr Putin wanted to ensure that this parliamentary election turned into a display of his own power.
He made clear to his potential rivals that he’ll remain on top for much longer.
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FORO / Participative Forum 
