Russian People Alienate from Power

[Nottingham]

Russian People Alienate from Power
09/23/2003 15:21
Russian authorities think it would be good to fine people for not voting

The term "absenteeism" (originates from Latin absentia - absence) means that people do not come to vote for the president, the parliament and so on and so forth. Usually, such people make up about 15 percent of the electorate. This is the crisp explanation of the process, when people alienate from the power. In the beginning of the 1990s, Russians believed that something would be definitely changed for the better with the help of their votes. The cruel reality proved the opposite.

Russian authorities both in the center and in the regions have been suppressing constitutional principles for years. It is possible to restrain Russian governors who roughly violate the law, but the situation is a lot worse if federal authorities violate people's constitutional rights. The law does not equalize everyone - such examples can be often found in everyday life. Elections have turned to a formal decorative procedure of the Soviet model. This policy has resulted in the political inaction of the population - the Russian society is separating from the power. This thesis can be proved with gubernatorial elections in Omsk, Novgorod, Ekaterinburg and in St.Petersburg. The average turnout made up 30-40 percent. Only 15-20 percent of the electorate vote for Russian governors and mayors. According to statistics, federal elections have a bigger turnout in comparison with regional elections. What if the majority of people vote against all candidacies?

Alexander Veshnyakov, chairman of the Central Electoral Committee, backed the idea to fine electors for their absence from elections, Echo of Moscow radio said. Vadim Tyulpanov, chairman of the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, set forth the suggestion yesterday, complaining of the low turnout at the gubernatorial election in St.Petersburg. "It is possible to do so from the point of view of the Russian Constitution - one would have to amend the Constitution and then change the election law," Veshnyakov said. The official added, "one would have to carefully realize all pluses and minuses of the mandatory voting." Alexander Veshnyakov said he was sorry the Russian people did not appreciate what they had been given - the possibility to form the power with the help of democracy. Apparently, Veshnyakov does not mind teaching people how to treasure freedom. The press service of the Russian Central Electoral Committee said, a law-making initiative was not likely to follow. Who knows, everything is possible in Russia, even the things that cannot be.

Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov submitted a deputy inquiry to the Office of the Prosecutor General asking to institute administrative proceedings against Vladimir Putin. Zyuganov wants to fine Putin in the sum of 22,500 rubles. Gazeta.Ru reported, the communist leader believed that Putin's appearance at United Russia's congress was a violation of the law. Gennady Zyuganov is certain that Vladimir Putin had no right to talk about his political preferences.


more...

http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/353/10948_elections.html


Wow wonder if we will ever get fined for not voting!
And 15% vote that sounds like America :bounce:

[AndyTiedye]

1. that's not much

> And 15% vote that sounds like America.

We get a better turnout than that from some cemetaries.