2017 Karelian head election

2017 Karelian head election
← 2002 10 September 2017 2022 →
Turnout29.3%
 
Nominee Artur Parfenchikov Irina Petelyaeva
Party United Russia SR
Popular vote 95,822 28,203
Percentage 61.3% 18.57%
 
CPRF
LDPR
Nominee Yevgeny Ulyanov Yevgeny Besedny
Party CPRF LDPR
Popular vote 18,942 8,877
Percentage 12.47% 5.84%
Acting Governor before election

Artur Parfenchikov
Independent

Governor

Artur Parfenchikov
United Russia

The 2017 Republic of Karelia head election took place on 10 September 2017, on common election day. Acting Head Artur Parfenchikov was elected for his first full term.[1] It was the first direct Karelia head election in 15 years since Sergey Katanandov won his second term in April 2002.

Background

Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen was appointed in May 2012. On 8 February 2017 reports emerged that Khudilainen wouldn't run for a second term, and on 15 February he announced his resignation.[2] Khudilainen allegedly wanted to seek reelection, however, several factors attributed to his resignation, including conflicts with local elite, poor ratings and problems with emergency shelter resettlement program.[3]

Federal Bailiffs Service Director Artur Parfenchikov was appointed acting Head of Karelia,[4] among other mentioned candidates were Head of the Federal Agency for Forestry Ivan Valentik and Head of Karelian FSSP Andrey Galyamov.[5] Parfenchikov later announced his run for a full term in office.

Regional leader of A Just Russia Irina Petelyaeva initially was rumoured to be Parfenchikov's candidate for a Federation Council, in exchange the party didn't field State Duma member Anatoly Greshnevikov against acting Governor Dmitry Mironov in Yaroslavl Oblast gubernatorial election, however, the arrangement feel through and Petelyaeva launched her campaign.[6] One of main republican opposition parties, Yabloko declined to nominate a candidate, citing inability to pass through a municipal filter.[7]

Candidates

Only political parties can nominate candidates for head election in Karelia, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidate is not obliged to be a member of the nominating party. Candidate for Head of Karelia should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 7% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities (88-92 signatures).[8] Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

Registered

  Candidates who withdrew from the election, but their names were already entered in the ballot
Candidate[9] Party Office
Yevgeny Besedny
Born 1987 (age 30) 		Liberal Democratic Party Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia
Yelena Gnyotova[A 1][10]
Born 1962 (age 55) 		Party of Growth Commissioner for the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs
in the Republic of Karelia
Olga Ilyukova
Born 1958 (age 58) 		Patriots of Russia Retired
Artur Parfenchikov
Born 1964 (age 52) 		United Russia[B 1] acting Head of Republic, former Director of the Federal Bailiffs Service (2008-2017)
Irina Petelyaeva
Born 1959 (age 58) 		A Just Russia Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, former Member of State Duma (2016)
Nikolay Tarakanov[A 2][10]
Born 1977 (age 40) 		Rodina Director of "АК1126", former Member of Petrozavodsk City Council
Yevgeny Ulyanov
Born 1977 (age 39) 		Communist Party Member of Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, aide to State Duma member Zhores Alfyorov

Failed to qualify

  • Igor Alpeyev (People Against Corruption), businessman
  • Maria Avisheva (Young Russia), Co-Chair of the Petrozavodsk Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Candidates for the Federation Council

Incumbent Senator Sergey Katanandov (United Russia) was not renominated.

Opinion polls

Date Poll source Parfenchikov Petelyaeva Ulyanov Besedny Tarakanov Gnyotova Ilyukova Undecided Abstention Spoil the Ballot
25 July–5 August 2017 Megapolis 38% 15% 4% 4% 2.4% 1% 0.2% 35.4% – –
17–25 July 2017 FOM 43% 3% 2% 1% 1% <1% <1% 34% 14% 1%

Result

Candidate Party Votes %
Artur Parfenchikov United Russia 95,822 66.11%
Irina Petelyaeva A Just Russia 28,203 18.57%
Yevgeny Ulyanov Communist Party 18,942 12.47%
Yevgeny Besedny Liberal Democratic Party 8,877 5.84%
Valid ballots 151,844 97.20%
Invalid ballots 4,371 2.80%
Total 156,215 100%
Registered voters / Turnout 534,015 29.26%
Source:[12]

Aleksandr Rakitin was appointed to the Federation Council, replacing incumbent Senator Sergey Katanandov.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Supported Artur Parfenchikov
  2. ^ Supported Artur Parfenchikov
  1. ^ Independent, nominated by United Russia

References

  1. ^ Артур Парфенчиков избран главой Карелии
  2. ^ Что сказал на прощание уходящий с губернаторского поста Александр Худилайнен. 15.02.2017
  3. ^ Карельский перешелец
  4. ^ Встреча с Артуром Парфенчиковым. 15.02.2017 Kremlin.ru
  5. ^ СМИ сообщили о возможной отставке главы Карелии
  6. ^ День выборов: как в Карелии "друг Путина" конкурировал с другом Медведева
  7. ^ a b «Яблоко» отказалось участвовать в выборах главы Карелии
  8. ^ "Постановление № 10/81-6 от 09 июня 2017 года "О числе подписей депутатов представительных органов муниципальных образований и (или) избранных на муниципальных выборах глав муниципальных образований, представляемых для регистрации кандидатом на должность Главы Республики Карелия"". Archived from the original on 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  9. ^ "Сведения о кандидатах". Archived from the original on 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  10. ^ a b Два кандидата на пост главы Карелии снялись с выборов в пользу Артура Парфенчикова
  11. ^ Артур Парфенчиков примет участие в выборах главы Карелии
  12. ^ "Результаты выборов". Archived from the original on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2017-10-20.