Direct Mayoral Elections Abolished In Yekaterinburg Despite Protests

April 03, 2018

Lawmakers in Russia's Sverdlovsk region have abolished the direct election of the mayor in the regional capital, Yekaterinburg, a move that has met resistance from the current mayor and protests by residents of Russia's fourth-largest city. In a 42-4 vote on April 3, the regional legislature passed a bill under which Yekaterinburg's mayor will be chosen by the city council from a list of candidates prepared by a commission. It was adopted a day after thousands of demonstrators rallied in Yekaterinburg in protest against the legislation, holding signs with slogans such as: "We need a mayor, not a puppet." Incumbent mayor Yevgeny Roizman blasted the legislation, which was submitted by regional governor Yevgeny Kuvaishev, saying it will be used by the authorities loyal to the Kremlin to "appoint" a pliant mayor. "[A mayor] who is elected is accountable to those who elected him, while one who was appointed is accountable to the one who appointed him," Roizman, who was elected to a five-year term in 2013, said at the legislative session. Critics say that President Vladimir Putin has rolled back democracy and tightened Kremlin control over electoral politics during around 18 years as president or prime minister.

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Rogue Valley said:

Direct Mayoral Elections Abolished In Yekaterinburg Despite Protests

Thousands of Yekaterinburg residents rallied in protest at the abolition of mayoral elections.



This is what happens when a weak and flawed Constitution exists ... tyranny and an illusion of democracy.

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HowardBThiname said:

In the US, our Constitution does not ensure that mayors are elected by the populace. In fact, some mayors are appointed by the city's councilmen.

I'm sure, like so many things, you did not realize that.

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HowardBThiname said:

In the US, our Constitution does not ensure that mayors are elected by the populace. In fact, some mayors are appointed by the city's councilmen.

I'm sure, like so many things, you did not realize that.

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Rogue Valley said:

That's not how it has worked in any other Russian city since 1995. Governors are appointed, mayors are elected.

It's obvious you didn't know that

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HowardBThiname said:

LOL --- your claim was that they didn't have a Constitution to stop that practice. I simply corrected your misconception that 1) a Constitution would deal with that, and 2) that the same thing doesn't happen here in the States.

I don't agree with what they did -- but you really ought to know more before you post statements like the on in the OP.

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Rogue Valley said:

There are 85 separate federated states in the Russian Federation with wide ranging powers. By far most of the 85 states have the power to conduct elections of local officials. As long as this does not violate the Russian federal constitution, it is allowed.

Sverdlovsk Oblast has always granted local election powers to cities and towns within its boundaries. The United Russia party in Sverdlovsk changed this law so that the body can appoint the mayor of Yekaterinburg rather than permit an elected official.

This is unprecedented (which is why the citizens are protesting). Stronger federal and regional Constitutions would not have allowed this purely partisan and undemocratic maneuver.

I suggest you yourself know what you're talking about before jumping in and showing your topical misconceptions.

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Less than 10 Russian cities still have direct mayoral elections with the rest using an appointment system.

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HowardBThiname said:

How can one person be wrong as many times as you are. This is not unprecedented at all.

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Rogue Valley said:

If you too dense and pro-Putin to realize/admit what is happening here, then that's on you Howie.

Pro-Kremlin officials cancel elections in city with Russia's only independent mayor

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Peter King said:

Here in my country mayors are appointed, largely because they are not supposed to be politicians as mayors but administrators and representatives of the inhabitants of a city.

It is the city councils and the alderman who can have political bias and views, it is the role of the mayor to lead the deliberations in the city council openly and fairly, giving full freedom for the democratic process and be "leader" of the city for public relations issues and in case of disasters or large criminal activities. For the rest they are supposed to be the binding factor in a city and not be a divisive political individual/person in a town.

Now the city council has some steering as to who they want but in general people are only chosen as mayor if they have long governing experience in other towns or in public office (higher public office that is) and have the appropriate experiences that comes with being a mayor. But usually it is a politician of some experience and standing that is chosen or a very experienced and unbiased person with extensive governing experience.

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Rogue Valley said:

In this case the elected mayor of Yekaterinburg is a supporter of the anti-Putin activist Alexi Navalny. Before the recent presidential election, Russian courts banned Mr. Navalny from being a presidential candidate. After the election, they now deal with the anti-Putin mayor by changing the law from an elected mayor of Yekaterinburg to an appointed mayor. Of course, those that changed the law also get to appoint the mayor now.

Putin's brand of Russian "Democracy".

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