The Limits of Managing Russia's Party System

Author(s): Alexander Kynev
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Aglaya Snetkov, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 106
Pages: 14-17
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute of History, University of Basel
Publication Year: 2011

The absence of effective representative institutions means that Russia has no parties that can operate in the normal sense of the word. Voters increasingly do not trust them. Over the years, the authorities adopted electoral legislation that had the effect of reducing the number of parties and increasing central control over their activities. Medvedev's reforms led to a further deterioration of the situation, with the extension of the presidential term to six years and the parliamentary term to five years. The existing parties are losing their ideological coherence as their various regional branches start to represent a variety of different interests. A change in Russia's political system could lead to a rapid change in its party system as well.

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