Russia: Political Institutions Surabi Kondapaka Period 7

Current System LegislatureExecutiveJudiciary Federation Council State Duma President Chairman of Gov’t (Premier) The Ministries Deputy Chairman Supreme Court of Arbitration Supreme Court Constitutional Court Prosecutor General

President Head of State Vladimir Vladmirovich Putin 2 consecutive 6-year terms Appoints Prime Minister and Cabinet ▫Must be approved by Duma Leads “Power Ministries” ▫Military, police, KGB Can introduce martial law Can veto legislation Can dissolve Duma and call new elections ▫Yeltsin attempted to do so by force

Prime Minister Chairman of Government Dmitry Medvedev Appointed by President Runs “day-to-day” activities Can be removed by a vote of no confidence by the Duma Submits Annual Budget Putin expanded PM powers in 2008

Judiciary Judges appointed by President, approved by Federation Council Have Judicial Review Putin advocated law reform, but issues still exist: ▫Corruption ▫Questionable judicial independence

Judiciary Constitutional Court ▫High Court – addresses Constitutional Complaints ▫19 members Supreme Court ▫Highest appeals court ▫Final court in criminal and civil cases ▫115 members Supreme Court of Arbitration ▫Final court for commercial disputes ▫53 members

Districts 8 super districts 89 “federal subjects” ▫21 “Republics” ▫Each signed the Federation Treaty  Except Chechnya Relative autonomy under Yeltsin, but Putin cracked down Name of District Central Federal District Southern Federal District Northwestern Federal District Far Eastern Federal District Siberian Federal District Ural Federal District Volga Federal District North Caucasian Federal District

Federalism Constitutionally “federal system” – but highly centralized “Asymmetric Federalism” ▫Presidential Nomination of Governors (Approved by Legislature) ▫Presidential Removal of Governors ▫Creation of Super-districts  “Super-governors” appointed by President ▫Governors appoint Federation Council Members ▫Elimination of Single Member Districts  Duma has proportional representation

Legislature Bicameral Legislature ▫Federation Council – “Upper House” ▫Duma – “Lower House” Known collectively as the Federation Assembly

Federation Council “Upper House” Equal Representation: 2 members from 89 regions ▫One elected from the provincial legislature ▫One appointed by provincial governor (confirmed by legislature) Powers: ▫Approve/reject laws (mostly delay legislation) ▫Confirm judges ▫Ratify treaties ▫Approve troop deployment

State Duma “Lower House” – but more power 450 reps - proportional representation from districts Powers: ▫Pass bills ▫Approve Budget ▫Impeach President ▫Confirm PM appointments ▫Vote of Confidence to remove PM United Russia (238) CPRF (92) A Just Russia (64) LDPR (56)

Political Parties 1991 – small, factional groups formed Most formed around specific leaders or issues ▫“Yuri-Boldyrev Movement” ▫Yabloko ▫Agrarian Party ▫Party of Pensioners Weak, fluid party power/loyalty ▫Over 100 parties in 1993 ▫Currently 70 registered parties

Political Parties United RussiaA Just Russia CPRFLDPR

Political Parties United Russia ▫Largest party by far  Gains strength from smaller “Pro-Putin” parties ▫Merger of 2 parties: Fatherland All-Russia and Unity Party ▫Formed by Boris Berezovsky to support Putin in 2000 election ▫“Putinism”  Modernization, economic reform

Political Parties The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) ▫Doesn’t want to reestablish the old regime, but wants its stability ▫Led by Gennady Zyuganov ▫Stance:  Regain old Soviet territory  Central planning, nationalization, worker’s rights  Willing to preserve small enterprises ▫Appeals to rural population and older citizens ▫Recently declining popularity

Political Parties A Just Russia ▫Sergei Mironov ▫Socialist version of CPRF ▫Welfare state, minimize rich-poor gap Liberal Democratic Party ▫Vladimir Zhirinovsky ▫Extremely controversial party  Nationalistic, sexist, anti-Semitic  Promotes nuclear warfare and strict justice  Vows to restore old Soviet borders  Mixed economy, private ownership

Reformist Parties Yabloko ▫Acronym of 3 founders (Yavlinsky, Boldyrev, Lukin) – also means “apple” ▫Pro-democracy ▫Used to be popular among intellectuals, Gorbachev-era reformists Union of Right Forces ▫“Right” as in “not wrong” (not ideological right) ▫Free Market and privatization of industry Republican Party of Russia ▫Against the “Putin regime”

Voting Referendum – called by President Duma Elections – proportional representation ▫2007 – Putin eliminated single-member districts Presidential Elections ▫Direct election ▫Runoff if no candidates win a simple majority ▫Highly suspicious  2000: Putin won by 52.94%  2004: Putin won by 71%  2008: Medvedev won by 71.2%  2012: Putin won by 63.6%

Oligarchy Wealthy tycoons monopolized industries under Yeltsin Boris Berezovsky and 6 others controlled >50% of Russia’s GNP through oil and media Oligarchy survived Yeltsin’s demise - formed United Russia party around Putin Once elected, Putin cracked down on oligarchs ▫Exiled Berezovsky, arrested CEO of Yukos Oil  Sent warning to other oligarchs ▫Oligarchs lost political power, Putin lost economic popularity

Russian Mafia Larger, perhaps more influential than oligarchy Gained control during Revolution of 1991 ▫Controlled local business, banks ▫Offered “protection money” ▫Laundered their own money Affiliated with the KGB

State Corporatism Insider privatization State determines who has policy-making input Large, state-owned holding companies Government forces large/rich companies to sell Gov’t controlled industries and Putin loyalists benefit

Russian Media Most media is government controlled ▫Channel 1: Public Russian TV Some privately owned newspapers, TV stations “Freedom of Speech” is questionable ▫Anna Politkovskaya criticized policies about Chechnya- was mysteriously poisoned ▫Ivan Safranov – outspoken critic - “fell from the window of his apartment”

Military Soviets prioritized military funding Under Russian Fed, military humiliated ▫Unpaid soldiers ▫Withdrawal from Afghanistan (1988) ▫Loss to Chechan Guerrillas ( ) Most political leaders have been civilian, military stays out of politics Putin pushing to reassert military power ▫2007 – announced Air Force would start regular, nuclear capable patrols

Overview PRESIDENT Constitutional Court Supreme Court Supreme Court of Arbitration Regional Governors Prime Minister Presidential Administration State Duma Federation Council Government Super- Governors Regional Legislatures VOTERS

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