Presidential election in Russia: who are the three candidates running against Vladimir Putin?

Romain Rouillard / Photo credit: AFP 6:30 a.m., March 16, 2024

Although they have no chance of winning, three candidates still presented themselves in the Russian presidential election, which should reinforce the omnipotence of Vladimir Putin.

Leonid Sloutski, Vladislav Davankov and Nikolai Kharitonov belong to the so-called "systemic" opposition and will not overshadow the master of the Kremlin.

For the suspense, you will have to come back.

Barring a cataclysm, Vladimir Putin will be re-elected on Sunday for a new six-year term.

His fifth as head of the Russian Federation.

However, three candidates - Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov and Nikolai Kharitonov - were allowed to present their candidacy.

They are part of the so-called “systemic” opposition, the only one tolerated by the regime, to the extent that it does not directly oppose Vladimir Putin.

The three candidates unambiguously support the Russian invasion of Ukraine and have no illusions about the outcome of a vote that they will accept without flinching. 

But then what's the point of showing up if the outcome of the vote is in no doubt?

"For nationalists, as for populists, it is a necessary crossing point for electoral representation. If you have enough votes in the presidential elections, you can claim enough seats in the Duma. And who says seats in the Douma says committee chairs, or even a presidency or vice-presidency of the Duma. So these parties are required to be present to continue to live politically, and the government sees no major disadvantages in this." explains according to Jean de Gliniasty, research director at Iris and former French ambassador to Russia.

Here are the three puppet candidates who will be present during this election spread over three days. 

Leonid Slutsky 

Aged 56, the candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) positions himself as a “liberal nationalist”, according to Jean de Gliniasty.

He took over, in 2022, at the head of this political group founded by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, “a colorful personality, with a thunderous voice, very populist and demagogue”.

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Leonid Sloutsky, who chairs the Duma Foreign Affairs Committee and was the former chairman of the Franco-Russian friendship committee in the lower house, says he is largely in favor of the war in Ukraine and even pledges allegiance to Vladimir Putin. predicting a “huge victory”.

"I am not going to call for a vote against Putin. Voting for Slutsky and voting for the LDPR is absolutely not voting against Putin. I will not take away votes from the President of Russia," he added. .

He is also accused of sexual harassment by several Russian journalists.

To date, no investigation has been opened. 

Nikolai Kharitonov

He is the representative of the Communist Party and campaigned on the traditional themes of his formation: nationalization of the economy and strengthening of social policy.

He also campaigns for measures aimed at boosting the country's flagging birth rate.

Nothing in his program really differs from that of Vladimir Putin.

This veteran of political life, aged 75, had already run - unsuccessfully - for the Kremlin in 2004 and has sat in the Duma since 1993. Unfailing support of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, he is also under European sanctions , American and Canadian. 

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If the Communist Party nevertheless represents "an important force in the country", indicates Jean de Gliniasty, the probable score of Nikolai Khraritonov should not be such as to make Vladimir Putin waver.

“He even said that Vladimir Putin was the best candidate,” adds the former ambassador. 

Vladislav Davankov

He is the youngest in this election.

He is also the one whose score should be the lowest.

Vice-president of the Duma, after having led a career as a businessman, he only received 5.4% of the votes in the last municipal elections in Moscow.

“He is someone whose political positioning is not very clear,” notes Jean de Gliniasty.

Of the three candidates, he is the one who stands out slightly from Vladimir Putin.

On the war in Ukraine, he is in favor of a peace process, but only on Russian conditions. 

He was also a supporter of Boris Nadezhdine, a much more direct opponent of Putin and hostile to the Russian invasion.

After obtaining the required number of signatures, he saw his application rejected due to “irregularities”.

“He is the kind of candidate who is a little vague, likely to reduce some left-wing votes and increase the participation rate,” believes Jean de Gliniasty.