ELECTORAL REFORMS OF 2004–2005

Upon entering office as president,Vladimir Putindeclared his intention to increase thevertical of powerassociated with the executive branch of government. During his first term in office, he marginalized the political power of theoligarchsand constrained themedia. He was, however, unable to implement his most dramatic reforms until theBeslan crisisin 2004.Framed against the threat of continuingterrorismand promising an end to the instability of the country, he proposed sweeping changes to the legislative system and federal system of power sharing. With almost universal support from the masses and political elites, he was able to abolish popular elections in Russia’sfederal subjectsand institute a proportional system for theState Duma. As a result, he—as president of the Russian Federation—gained the ability to recommend gubernatorial candidates in the regions, to then be approved by the local legislature, thus making them beholden to the center. His reforms within theFederal Assemblyguaranteed his control of parliament through a system that advantaged pro-Kremlin parties and marginalized liberal and other oppositionpolitical parties, which had been able to gain seats through the election of deputies without large party memberships.