The Apathy of Russian Voters
A peculiar Divide Remains between average People and their Leaders
2008 is election year in Russia and President Putin's future remains uncertain. Average Russians feel indifferent about politics and may not influence election outcome.
The average Russian is as unlikely to discuss the failings of the Soviet era as he is to discuss current Russian politics. Like all things Russian, the reasons for this are complex, but the main explanation these days is that most Russians feel indifferent when it comes to the politics of the day. They see little connection between political power and their own prosperity. Ironically, it is their newfound wealth that is the very reason for their lack of political involvement. They are earning more money than ever, enjoying improved standards of living, and most importantly, they do not perceive an immediate threat to any of these comforts. Besides, even if a threat did exist, when has dissent in their country ever achieved change at the top?
However, 2008 is an important year. While average-Boris may remain uninterested in making his vote count, there is much noise about what will happen in the elections next year. Constitutionally President Vladimir Putin cannot remain as president. Despite repeated assurances that he will not seek to amend the constitution to add a third term to his tenure, he has made public remarks about how much he enjoys his job. In addition, his current approval ratings hover around 80%.
A few weeks ago, Sergei Mironov, the pro-Kremlin speaker of the Federation Council, one of the chambers of the country’s legislative branch, appealed to all to discuss the possibility of allowing Putin to stay on. He claimed that this was the desire of millions of Russians, but did not mention the multitudes of high-ranking politicians who would undoubtedly also wish to keep the status quo… and the power and privileges that come with it. The Kremlin has denied the possibility of a third term for Putin, but if there are enough voices among the political elite, and it becomes a national debate in the State Duma Elections at the end of this year, there is still time to change the constitution. According to one opposition leader enough reasons for changing the constitution can always be found in arguments citing the “higher will of the people” or the “necessity to preserve stability in society”.
Ultimately it may be difficult for Putin to go back on his word so publicly, so what are his options? Those few Russians who are willing to express an opinion, reckon that Putin will do one of three things: stay on following a change to the constitution, leave government and become head of Gazprom, the powerful state-controlled gas company, or leave for a short while and return if the situation with his successor “does not work out”.
But there is a fourth possibility too, one that might be the most appealing to president Putin; an alternative that has been highlighted by the death of former president Boris Yeltsin: the role of “Father of the Nation”. It is indeed currently vacant.
