Russian Parliamentary Elections 2016: A lifeline is needed for the non-systemic opposition. EPC Commentary, 23 September 2016

Marocchi, Tania (2016) Russian Parliamentary Elections 2016: A lifeline is needed for the non-systemic opposition. EPC Commentary, 23 September 2016. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Putin’s United Russia party emerged as the absolute winner of the 18 September parliamentary election, winning a higher than expected 54% of the popular vote (+5%), and taking 76% of the seats in the State Duma (+24%). The result significantly strengthens the party’s dominance in the Duma and reinforces President Putin’s position ahead of the 2018 presidential elections. It also suggests that the Kremlin’s carefully balanced mix of coercion and concessions has successfully silenced the demands for major democratic reforms, which had been voiced at street protests during the 2011 parliamentary elections. Without external support, non-systemic liberal parties risk becoming even more marginalised in the future. The EU should invest in civil society initiatives to assist liberal Russian democratic forces in an increasingly autocratic political environment.

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