Predictably Vladamir Putin has "won" the just completed election [well, of sorts!] in Russia.
Criticism has already come from independent watchdogs about the manner in which the process was undertaken. Not surprising when intimidation was just one part of the "election".
The Economist provides its analysis of the election:
"It was never in doubt that Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party would get a sweeping victory in the parliamentary elections on Sunday December 2nd. The entire government machine, the court system, the prosecution service, the police, the state media and even the central commission itself were deployed to produce a landslide victory. The result was programmed months ago: United Russia got its 64%; just three other parties—the Communists, the ultra-nationalist and obedient Liberal Democratic Party and Just Russia, a Kremlin satellite—passed a 7% threshold.
Nor was there any doubt that the poll was rigged. “The election was not fair and failed to meet standards for democratic elections,” concluded the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe in a joint statement. Nothing was left to chance to ensure a high turnout. In Moscow your correspondent spotted several “tourist” buses stuffed with people from far-flung regions. They voted early and often. The buses were guarded by men in black leather coats and ski hats who, every few minutes, would let a small group out of the vehicle to cast their ballots. They would move to the next polling station and repeat the exercise. The “leader” of the group said the men were workers from a nearby factory. But, despite strict instruction to keep silent, some admitted that they were free labourers and came from as far away as the Kemerovo region, some 3500 km from Moscow. “We have been going around polling stations since lunch time,” grumbled one man, “and they have not paid us yet”.
For a European perspective on the farce of a Russian election, read this piece in Spiegel International here.
Criticism has already come from independent watchdogs about the manner in which the process was undertaken. Not surprising when intimidation was just one part of the "election".
The Economist provides its analysis of the election:
"It was never in doubt that Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party would get a sweeping victory in the parliamentary elections on Sunday December 2nd. The entire government machine, the court system, the prosecution service, the police, the state media and even the central commission itself were deployed to produce a landslide victory. The result was programmed months ago: United Russia got its 64%; just three other parties—the Communists, the ultra-nationalist and obedient Liberal Democratic Party and Just Russia, a Kremlin satellite—passed a 7% threshold.
Nor was there any doubt that the poll was rigged. “The election was not fair and failed to meet standards for democratic elections,” concluded the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe in a joint statement. Nothing was left to chance to ensure a high turnout. In Moscow your correspondent spotted several “tourist” buses stuffed with people from far-flung regions. They voted early and often. The buses were guarded by men in black leather coats and ski hats who, every few minutes, would let a small group out of the vehicle to cast their ballots. They would move to the next polling station and repeat the exercise. The “leader” of the group said the men were workers from a nearby factory. But, despite strict instruction to keep silent, some admitted that they were free labourers and came from as far away as the Kemerovo region, some 3500 km from Moscow. “We have been going around polling stations since lunch time,” grumbled one man, “and they have not paid us yet”.
For a European perspective on the farce of a Russian election, read this piece in Spiegel International here.
Comments