The Russians vote on September 13 for the third and final day in 41 regions of the country.

The voters are called upon to elect their governors, their regional or municipal assemblies, as well as four deputies of the national parliament. 

Usually there are no big stakes.

But this year, Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia, is in trouble.

The elections take place against the backdrop of the poisoning of the number 1 opponent, Alexeï Navalny, and in a more general context of mistrust of power. 

In a difficult economic and social context, rocked by accusations of corruption, the popularity of Vladimir Putin's party is eroding with only 30% of favorable opinions, according to the latest polls.

"Vote to change the system"

The campaign was thus boosted by the presence of opponents, notably in Novosibirsk (Siberia), the third largest city in the country.

An unprecedented alliance of about thirty independent candidates challenges United Russia.

The campaign was particularly active there, with large billboards displaying the slogans "Tell them 'No'!"

and "Vote to change the system". 

Sergei Boyko, a well-known 37-year-old candidate who united the opposition, prides himself on having succeeded in "disrupting the plans" of United Russia and the Communist Party, which had already "divided the districts of the city between them, hoping an easy campaign ".

From now on, pro-Kremlin candidates in Novosibirsk "must campaign actively, meet voters every day, spend a lot of money," he said.

"Smart vote"

The regional elections are also an opportunity for the opposition to test once again its tactics of "smart voting", which consists of calling to vote for the candidate best placed to lose the one in power.

This tactic had already proved its worth last summer in Moscow, in municipal elections in which United Russia lost many seats, mainly to the benefit of the Communists.

It was crafted by Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin's main adversary whose specter hangs over the countryside.

Falling seriously ill in August while touring Siberia to support opposition candidates and investigate corruption among local elites, he is currently hospitalized in Berlin.

According to his German doctors, he was poisoned in Russia.

Dispersion of votes 

Opposition supporters came under attack, pressure and threats throughout the campaign.

While the power is suspected of having encouraged the dispersion of votes, to its advantage. 

Apart from United Russia and the traditional Communist Party and LDPR (nationalists), the ballot also includes candidates from four new formations suspected of having been encouraged by the government to divide the electorate and give a pluralist veneer to the ballots.

With AFP 

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