Kaliningrad refuses the election of the mayor
The acting head of the Kaliningrad region Anton Alikhanov introduced in the legislative Assembly a bill abolishing the elections of the mayor of Kaliningrad. He explained “Kommersant” that the project is “the overall Federal trend”, and in Kaliningrad due to “decades of confrontation between regional and city authorities.” A similar initiative is being discussed in the Voronezh region. If the amendments in the two regions are approved, that the popular election of heads will be only nine of 82 regional centers.
According to the draft, which Mr. Alikhanov introduced in the legislative Assembly, the regional center introduced a double-headed system of governance: the head of municipality, will be the speaker of the city Council and the administration will be headed by the appointed city Manager. As reported by “Kommersant” Mr. Alikhanov, the project “is not the first freshness” and “it was discussed long time ago.”
“He’s in the overall Federal trend. His appearance in Kaliningrad caused by a longstanding opposition to the regional and city authorities which suffered above all the population of the city itself: no funds were allocated for infrastructure projects”, — he said.
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The faction “United Russia” in legislative Assembly has already prepared amendments to the Governor’s bill: instead of the proposed double-headed scheme it is expected that the mayor will be appointed by the competition Commission. The speaker of the legislative Assembly, the head of fraction of United Russia Marina Orhei did not comment on the “b” amendments to the Governor’s bill. Anton Alikhanov called amendments United Russia “attempt to agree on the shores of unity of command in the city.” “If this measure will allow to avoid conflicts between city officials, the city will only win” — he said “Kommersant”.
Now Kaliningrad is headed by the United Russia Alexander Yaroshuk, who was elected in 2012, in 2017 he would have had elections. Mr. Yaroshuk in October assumed that they will be abolished: “it Will be made law, according to which the head of administration will be selected by the city Council.” Later the mayor said that he supports the introduction of a post of a single assigned Chapter.
“This is a nationwide trend, the Governor is forced to follow it, although Kaliningrad was kept for a long time — after all it’s the European Outpost of Russia”, — said “Kommersant” the ex-Deputy of the legislative Assembly, Solomon Ginzburg. According to experts of Committee of civil initiatives Andrey Maksimova, “Kaliningrad is special in the fact that there experienced and high-profile mayor, who traditionally controlled by the Governor and has its own levers of economic and political influence”. “At the same time, the new young Governor, of course, is interested in strengthening its hardware, the status and administrative positions,” he said.
In the Voronezh region, United Russia is also discussing the abolition of elections of the mayor of the regional center. The initiative was supported by Governor Alexey Gordeyev, has repeatedly advocated direct election of the mayor.
In case of cancellation of elections of heads of the Kaliningrad and Voronezh popular election will remain only in nine regional centres from 82. This Khabarovsk, Anadyr, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Abakan, Yakutsk, Novosibirsk, Maikop, Ekaterinburg.
Andrey Maksimov recalled that in the Novosibirsk mayor elected Communist Anatoly Lokot, therefore, the status of the mayor there has “immunity.” “In Abakan strong mayor, but he does not interfere with the Governor. The head of Khabarovsk Alexander Sokolov mater, to budge no solved. In Ekaterinburg have real power appointed by the administration and not the elected mayor,” he listed the expert. In Anadyr, Kemerovo, said Mr. Maksimov, the situation is completely manageable.
“The trend in the abolition of elections of mayors comes from the Federal level, but it is beneficial to governors — half of the composition of the tender Committee appoint them. The few remaining regions either showed character, or the cancellation was fraught with serious conflicts among local groups of influence”, — explained “Kommersant” political scientist Alexander Kynev.
Andrew Pepper, Elina Sugarova, Natalia Kurchenkova