In western Moscow, Putin allies lose an election but cling to power

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS NOVEMBER 24, 2017 / 5:07 AM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

In western Moscow, Putin allies lose an election but cling to power

Maria Tsvetkova
5 MIN READ

MOSCOW (Reuters) - More than 10 weeks after losing a local council election in western Moscow, Vladimir Putin’s party is clinging to power there - by fair means or foul.

The standoff over control of Filyovsky Park Council came to a head when opposition councilor Vadim Korovin tried to sit in the chairman’s seat at a meeting on Tuesday. A councilor from the Russian president’s United Russia cut his microphone cable and then body-checked him as he tried to reach the seat.

“This is a violent occupation and seizure of power!” Korovin protested to the United Russia representative, Dmitry Prokhorov, who pushed him from his way as a policeman stepped in to prevent a fight.

All four United Russia members on the council then walked out. Soon afterwards the electricity in the building, and all the lights, went off.

Using flashlights of mobile phones to see, the six opposition members of the 10-seat council continued the meeting. They elected Korovin as deputy chairman and, in effect, caretaker leader, but the United Russia members later refused to recognize the vote.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-election-moscow/in-western-moscow-putin-allies-lose-an-election-but-cling-to-power-idUSKBN1DO108

[DetlefK]

1. And I thought that US elections are fucked up:

The law states that a council’s chair stays in the post until replaced after an election and must be elected by a two-thirds majority. It does not explain what happens if control of the council changes hands but, as in Filyovsky Park district, no party has a two-thirds majority.

So the chairman cannot be replaced unless the opposition wins TWO THIRDS of the vote.

[Nitram]

2. The de-democratization of Russia proceeds apace.