Sufficient Legitimation for a Shadow President?

Author(s): Hans-Henning Schröder
Editor(s): Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 32
Pages: 2-4
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2007

The results of the Duma election came as no surprise. After a very one-sided campaign, the United Russia party supported by Putin won 64 percent of the vote. In the Fifth Duma, as before, it will command a two thirds majority. This result has allowed the presidential administration to consolidate a party system that is dominated by administrative parties. However, since these parties are not viable in the long run without support from above, the outcome does not mean that the system has now been stabilized. Neither has the Duma election resolved the problem of succession. As the main candidate of United Russia, Putin had attempted to achieve long-term legitimacy as a political authority through a quasi-referendum. In a number of regions, however, the election results were unsatisfactory from Putin's point of view. Even the nomination of Dmitry Medvedev as the Kremlin's candidate in the presidential election does not make clear what role Putin will play in the new system.

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