On the presidential elections in Russia 2018

Abstract

This article analyzes the political situation in Russia on the eve of the president’s elections on March 18, 2018. Vladimir Putin is running for re-election for the fourth time. The polls predict a comfortable victory, which could expand his control of Russia’s political scene to a third decade. Putin is very determined not only to win 70% of the votes cast, since the directives to the regional heads to organize this figure were sent long ago, but also to obtain a participation of more than 70% of the eligible voters. By achieving this formula 70-70, Putin and the regime can pretend to fulfill the electoral ritual and provide the illusion of legitimacy. Three principles of realism are addressed: sovereignty, the prince, Leviathan with the aim of verifying that Putin’s behavior throughout all the preceding stages and in the current stage is completely integrated into the model of realism, with all its principles, including those corresponding to Leviathan, sovereignty and the new prince. Putin has customized the institutions of the state: the courts, the army, the security forces, the parliament, even the opposition parties, and the economy, too. Ironically, Putin has laid the groundwork for exactly the kind of chaotic collapse he has spent his political life trying to avoid, the kind of collapse that gave rise to his reign. He has become hostage to a system he built with his own hands.