During the autumn election campaign, Russia should set a good example for other countries, Vladimir Putin said.
‘Avoid empty rhetoric and cheap, unfunded populism – you know how damaging it is’, he said at a session of the Council of Legislators at the Federal Assembly in St Petersburg.
The President reminded that federal parliamentary elections and campaigns in regions would take place in autumn. Putin urged to respect opponents and compete – honestly, transparently and in strict compliance with the law and political ethics.
The President stressed that it was important not to repeat the mistakes of the early 90s, when ‘they promised anything, anything at all, just to gain support of electorate’. According to him, this negative practice is still in place, and people are distrustful of the political system, which is being shaken from within.
‘The result is that we still cannot get a handle on some issues’, Putin added.
It is necessary to be responsible and honest with citizens, the President noted. He expressed his hope that Russians will be able to make their choice consciously, including ‘without servile and often dangerous, divisive cues from beyond the society’.
‘Only they [Russians – ed.] have the right to decide who is worthy of representing their interests, to develop and adopt the laws by which our country lives’, the President concluded.
The single day of voting in 2021 is 19 September. Regional, municipal and State Duma elections will take place on the third Sunday of the month.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti