Almost all of Russia’s regional governors are members of the United Russia party. And today they seemed to be overjoyed with yesterday’s ‘meganews’ – President Putin’s decision to head the party’s federal parliamentary election list. After reading all their songs of praise, one might have a deja vu and remember Soviet-era Communist party assemblies.
Governors have hurried to comment on Putin's decision, calling it 'historical', 'honest and balanced' None of the regional heads seemed to be surprised by the President's move. «The fact that our party's federal list will be headed by Putin is not a sensation. We all know, how much Russians believe and trust him», the head of Yamalo-Nenetsk area Yuri Neelov was quoted as saying. «Citizens of Russia will support the President with high turnout and their votes during the coming elections», echoed Vladimir Yakushev, the governor of Tyumen region.
According to Mr Yakushev, Russians 'knew that Putin must stay in Russia's political system', and though Putin has on many occasions said he would not breach the constitution and run for President for the third term, 'we all understand that this man plays a very important role' both inside Russia and in the world. The country should move on 'in the same direction' that was set (by Putin), and that is why Putin must 'play one of the leading roles' in Russia's policies, said Yakushev.
The governor of Altai area Aleksander Karlin prefers to think that Putin's move was not only 'a gift', but also a greater 'political and even historical responsibility for our party'.
The head of Tatarstan's regional United Russia structure Farid Mukhamedshin agrees: «This is a sign of trust for the party, a new impulse for our work». He also said Putin as party leader is the only person who can guarantee 'succession', which makes Mr. Mukhamedshin 'face the future with greater confidence'.
The President has 'demonstrated his readiness to take responsibility for the country's future and set it clear that United Russia is the political force that he thinks can secure our state's sustainable development', Victor Kress, the governor of Tomsk region, seemed very inspired when saying this.
Aleksander Khloponin from Krasnoyarsk territory said Putin's move was 'logical'. «He was there at the beginning of United Russia, he always leaned of the party's support». As the President wants Russia to further develop in the same direction that was chosen during his own reign, he knows that it is only possible in case that United Russia maintains majority in the Duma, Khloponin said. According to the governor, United Russia is a 'leading party' that enjoys support of majority Russians. Such domination of one party should not frighten anybody, Khloponin said. Similar 'leading parties', like Liberal Democrats in Japan or Social Democrats in Sweden 'have dominated their countries for many years', and 'we can't say it was a bad thing for these countries' development'.
Alexander Popov
Photo: Mitya Aleshkovsky
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