Election starts on Friday

Why Putin’s election farce is still so important

It is a foregone conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be re-elected for another six years in office at the weekend.(Bild: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP / picturedesk.com)

Kremlin Tsar Vladimir Putin will be confirmed as president for a further six years from Friday. Everything is set up so that only an election victory can emerge. There are no serious opponents, critical voices have been silenced. Krone+ reveals why the political farce in Moscow is nevertheless important. 

The disgraceful spectacle, which is scheduled to take place from Friday to Sunday (March 15 to 17), naturally has nothing to do with fair and free elections. All opposition members who could have challenged the incumbent Putin are either dead, in prison or have been exiled abroad. Independent media have been silenced. The election procedure is firmly in the hands of the Kremlin, and the 114 million eligible voters are mere decoration.