Russian Parliamentary (duma) Elections: Keep your Snotty Noses Out!

That's what Putin said to all Western leaders and media, who have publicized the well known lavish preferences "United Russia" had during the campaign, the pressure on all Russian big business, the vote-rigging... And that's exactly what the Western world did! The West no longer dares to poke the nose in the Russian domestic affairs and, increasingly, in Russia's foreign policy. Europe's main observer body boycotted the polls! Great idea! Some 300 unknown observers "looked over" the elections instead... (Just for reference, Russia has a population of 130 million spanning over 11 time zones). "Early reports from Russia include allegations of election-day violations. We urge Russian authorities to investigate these claims," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for White House national security council. OK! What ya gonna do about it, hah? Putin's team IS the "Russian authorities"! This statement is just another demonstration that U.S. foreign policy continues to seriously lack understanding of what's going on outside of the U.S. national borders!

Putin's power team won by a landslide - as expected by the vast majority of the Russian people, who associates Putin with the improved quality of life, which has become obvious for everybody in Russia and all those, who have visited it in the last 4-5 years. Who cares that the improvement is being paid for by the flourishing Russian commodity exports? Who cares how much this and the upcoming presidential campaign cost? The voting Russians have been trained for the political apathy by the Communist rule, the hick up years that followed, the "prihvatization times" (Russian expression combining "privatization" and "to grab (equity)"). Russian people just want to have a life! And life is better now!

What does the United Russia's victory mean for business? Stability! Financial markets have rejoiced at the resounding win by the Putin's power team, and ...remained quiet. Business has already factored the election results into their strategies and tactics! Business feels better and investors will keep on crowding as the Russia Trading System index continues to far outpace most stock indices in the world.

Despite all the kicks and giggles of the Western leadership, media, and pro-Western movements in Russia itself, nothing can stop Putin's power team for many years to come. Whether you like it or not! Boycotting elections, irrelevant jokes from Washington are laughable! The change of power in Russia is not expected until after all commodity prices are back down (thanks to alternative energy sources and technology advances); Putin's buddies have enjoyed a few years of sheik-like life, nationalized companies have been robbed of cash, innovation and sane management, and oligarch's children wasted the better parts of their parents' fortunes. What ya gonna do about it? Hah?


Article Source: http://marketing.article24h.com/category/politics.html
Author: Andre Leonov
Andre Leonov
Leading partner of FertiKola, a U.S.-Russian business consulting firm since 1998