Duma Election 2011: Review and First Conclusions

The Duma election in December 2007 was deemed „neither fair nor free“ by the OSCE. In the meantime things did not get better and the election in December 2011 hardly lives up to its name either. Even though some superficial amendments to electoral and party legislation have been made since 2007; the registration of parties, their admittance to the election, television as the most important mass medium, the election itself and the vote count are still largely controlled by the executive authority.

So why all the effort if the election is extensively manipulated and controlled by those in power and the results are basically known beforehand? Why do between one half and two-thirds of the eligible voters still bother to go to the polls and ballot for one of the two parties put forward by the authorities? What are they trying to say? Why does the remaining half or third not go to the ballot box at all or spoil their ballots? And last but not least: what does the foreseeable majority for ‘United Russia’ mean for a renewed presidency of Vladimir Putin?

Together with ‘Russland-Analysen’, ‘European Exchange’ and Russian NGO Golos, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung has –in the past months– published analyses of and  background reports on the election process. Now it is time to draw a first conclusion together with our partners.
 
Venue
Vertretung des Landes Baden-Württemberg bei der EU Rue Belliard 60-62 1040 Brussels

Welcome
Dr. Nicola Schelling, head Landesvertretung Baden- Württemberg

Speakers
Masha Lipman, editor-in-chief of the journal Pro et Contra, Carnegie Moscow Center
Lilija Shebanova, chairwoman GOLOS Association

Discussant
Werner Schulz, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA)

Moderator
Claude Weinber, director Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union
 
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* A sandwich lunch will be available between 12.30 and 13.00.  The meeting will start at at 13.00 (sharp) and is held under Chatham House Rule.