The Union Party is to ballot its members as part of a combined internal election to decide both its presidential candidate and permanent leader before July 18.
Acting head of the party and former finance minister Dmitry Kreshnenvo announced the plans in an early morning press statement earlier today and also hinted that he may well enter the leadership contest himself. Saying that he believed it was time for ‘a real mandate to be secured’ Kreshnenvo added that it was ‘proper and prudent’ to hold the leadership ballot at the same time as the party will choose its presidential nominee.
Four years ago President Artamova was reaffirmed as the party’s candidate for the presidential election by acclimation at a meeting of senior members and legislators, having won the job through a primary battle eight years before against former Kamchetka Governor Stepan Michalvich.
Upon winning the contest, Artamova stood down as party leader and was replaced by Lazar Ulanov in an all-members poll held later that year. However, this time, the party said it wanted to be ‘ready and prepared for any eventuality’ – raising speculation that its leadership expects to fail to clinch the presidency for a record fourth consecutive time. Kreshnenvo is also thought to have warned colleagues that a divisive leadership race held after the presidential candidate had been selected, or having lost the election itself, could prove ‘disastrous’ for the party and won round senior officials into backing his plan in an attempt to stave off a split in party. The interim leader laid out the proposal – for both posts to be contested at the same time – to internal party figures earlier last month, with the race now due to culminate in late July, some three to four months before the presidential race in early November.
Several key party figures are now thought to be preparing bids, with the contest expected to get underway at the beginning of May.
Mr Kreshnenvo is considered a top contender to retain the party leadership on a permanent basis, having served as interim leader since last summer when he replaced former foreign minister Isidor Doletskaya who was widely criticised for his performance in the temporary role. Other figures likely to run include Kamchetka senior councilman Leo Serrantes and Amarian deputy Vlad Marat. Chudniv representative Radek Allenbach is also thought to have courted colleagues about standing whilst Federal Council Leader Ivan Tattar and the Mayor of Arvi Taras Illyushin are expected to contest the party’s presidential ticket. Ivan Jezek from Béspura may also join the presidential race – although is yet to confirm that he will seek the Union Party’s backing and is reportedly considering standing under a ‘New Unitarian’ banner.
Under threat from the Nationalists and in disarray over its leadership, calls for a split in the party have grown over the past 12 months but all major candidates are expected to back keeping the party together – with only Marat and Jezek thought to be promoting a split.
Both policy and personality will be major factors in both elections – with the party trying to give itself a new image almost twelve years since first winning the presidency in 2007. Speaking at a national party meeting yesterday, Amar’s junior assemblymember Christian Lvov, once thought of as a potential candidate for the leadership, said he believed the party needed to ‘find its voice’. “As a party we are failing to give a coherent and powerful vision about what kind of country we want to be. We’ve spent a lot of time in the weeds of policies and under the weight of sharing power with the Centrists. Now is the time to find our voice and we need a leader who can speak to the people.”
Whilst close with Federal Council Leader Ivan Tattar, President Artamova is expected to refrain from commenting on or endorsing a candidate for either of the positions he has previously held, but close aides believe he will take private meetings with any candidate that wishes to do so.
With the race for the Niveri palace expected to be closer than ever in November, some expect further candidates to come forward for both major parties before the deadline for nominations on the 27 July when the race will formally begin.
