Ornament candidates to eternalize Putin: "I know I can't win, I'm not an idiot"
It is widely known in Russia that Vladimir Putin is expected to emerge as the winner in the upcoming elections on March 17th. However, what is currently unfolding is the extent to which the Kremlin is willing to go in order to legitimize Putin’s continued hold on power after nearly 25 years.
The decision by the electoral authorities to exclude pacifist candidate Boris Nadezhdin from the presidential race was justified by Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov, citing flaws in his documentation. This decision does not come as a surprise, as Putin has been cracking down on the opposition since the invasion of Ukraine, leading to many prominent critics fleeing the country or being imprisoned.
The Kremlin’s plan for the March 2024 elections is for Putin to receive more than 80% of the votes. However, Putin desires a semblance of legitimacy, even if it is questionable, as long as it helps prolong the facade of a democratic process. Putinism has created a political system that excludes any rivals deemed as threats, not only to Putin himself but also to the managed democracy system. Nevertheless, the system allows for contenders who may appear to challenge Putin for power but never question the political system or the Kremlin’s agenda.
Aware that it will not be easy to increase voter turnout in elections that ultimately have no real impact, the authorities have taken a conservative approach. Only representatives from parliamentary parties are allowed to participate, excluding liberals and independent candidates. This move ensures that there will be no renewal or enthusiasm among voters.
The Kremlin initially saw Nadezhdin as an insignificant opponent, but recent events demonstrated that the support for him was becoming larger than expected. Reports suggest that the Kremlin became concerned when Russians were seen lining up in the cold to sign up in support of Nadezhdin. The cancellation of his candidacy is a preemptive measure to avoid any potential protests, but it comes at the cost of demobilizing a sector of the electorate.
The authorized candidates, who are primarily there for show, make no secret of the fact that they have no intention of challenging Putin. Leonid Slutsky, leader of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party, candidly stated that he does not dream of beating Putin. Andrei Bogdanov of the Russian Freedom and Justice Party similarly admitted that he does not stand a chance. Meanwhile, Putin continues to seek support and has even garnered backing in occupied territories.
The problem with allowing real candidates to compete is that they could expose the rest as mere puppets. According to a survey conducted on behalf of Boris Nadezhdin’s campaign, his support was at 7.8% a few days ago and could have increased even further. This poses a threat to the puppet show that has been orchestrated for Putin’s benefit. While no one can realistically challenge the president, there is a concern that a candidate from the streets could disrupt the carefully crafted image of Putin’s overwhelming popularity.