The municipal elections in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in 2005-2020 as reflected in a socio-political analysis

Abstract

The relevance of the research topic is due to the important role that local self-government bodies play in people’s lives: according to experts, 70-80% of everyday life issues that concern most people on a daily basis are solved at the local level. Therefore, the search for an optimal model of organizing the local self-government and relationships between local and regional authorities are still urgent tasks for our country. The purpose of this article is to trace how the implemented models of the organization of local self-government, which provide for indirect elections of heads of local self-government, affect the formation of local authorities and whether it was possible to bring the municipal authorities closer to the population. This goal is realized by analyzing the results of four municipal elections in the Krasnoyarsk Territory held in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The 3rd model of the organization of local self-government is already applied for the specified time. The methods used include a sociological survey of the population and the analysis of electoral statistics and mass media. The results allowed making the following conclusions. First off all, a system of government has been created at the municipal level, characterized by stability, continuity, and manageability, in which the United Russia party plays a dominant role. At the same time, the results of the last election highlighted the shortcomings of this system. Secondly, the transition to indirect elections of heads of municipalities did not lead to the creation of an effective mechanism for selecting the most worthy local leaders. Third, the steadily declining electoral activity of citizens in municipal elections: 62.4% (2005); 39.6% (2010); 29.6% (2015); 24.6% (2020), and the number of supporters of the “party of power” reduce the legitimacy of local governments. Fourthly, citizens are beginning to place responsibility for the situation on the ground on regional authorities.