There is a causal relationship between individual choice and party
development
Parties in Russia are weak because the most powerful politicians in
Russia have made choices to make them weak
The timing of elections, the kind of electoral systems, and the
relationship between the president and parliament at the federal
level and the relationship among the heads of administration and
local legislatures at the regional level have impeded party
development
Centralisation of
the Party System
In 2007 all seats in the Duma were filled on the basis of
proportional representation
Parties and blocs had to garner more than 7 percent of votes to
enter parliament
A party’s minimal membership was increased
from 10,000 to 50,000
Stricter bureaucratic procedures were introduced
for registering for elections
Voters wereno
longer allowed to cast their ballots "against
all candidates"
Contradictions between Aims and Results
Stated
aim
Practical outcome
development of a viable multi-party system
restrictions on the type of parties allowed
establishing a smaller number of more effective
parties
