2021 Penza Oblast gubernatorial election

The 2021 Penza Oblast gubernatorial election took place on 17–19 September 2021, on common election day, coinciding with election to the State Duma. Acting Governor Oleg Melnichenko was elected for his first term.[1]

2021 Penza Oblast gubernatorial election

← 2020 17–19 September 2021 2026 →
Turnout56.96%
 
CPRF
Candidate Oleg Melnichenko Oleg Shalyapin
Party United Russia CPRF
Popular vote 428,868 73,153
Percentage 72.38% 12.35%

 
SR-ZP
LDPR
Candidate Aleksey Shpagin Aleksandr Vasilyev
Party SR-ZP LDPR
Popular vote 33,714 33,593
Percentage 5.69% 5.67%

Governor before election

Oleg Melnichenko
United Russia

Elected Governor

Oleg Melnichenko
United Russia

Background

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Governor Ivan Belozertsev in 2020 won re-election to his second term with 78.72% of the vote.[2] On 21 March 2021, less than a year after the election, Governor Belozertsev was arrested, he was charged with accepting a ₽31 million ($0.4 million) bribe from former Senator from Penza Oblast (2003-2013) and pharmaceutical executive Boris Shpigel.[3] Simultaneously, Investigative Committee announced that they had found facts of electoral fraud during 2020 gubernatorial election.[4] On 26 March President Vladimir Putin fired Belozertsev for the "loss of trust" and appointed Senator Oleg Melnichenko as acting Governor of Penza Oblast.[5] Melnichenko previously served in the Government of Penza Oblast in 2007-2009 as Minister of Education and Science, Vice Governor and Deputy Head of Government, and as Deputy Presidential Envoy to the Volga Federal District (2013-2017).[6]

Candidates

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Only political parties can nominate candidates for gubernatorial election in Penza Oblast, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidate is not obliged to be a member of the nominating party. Candidate for Governor of Penza Oblast should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for Governor should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 253 signatures of members and heads of municipalities.[7] Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

Registered candidates

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Withdrawn candidates

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Lost nomination

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Candidates for the Federation Council

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  • Pyotr Chugay (RPPSS):
    • Aleksandr Lomakin, pensioner
    • Aleksey Panfilov, chairman of regional Council of GSFG Veterans
    • Lidiya Panfilova, chairwoman of the RPPSS Penza city office
  • Oleg Melnichenko (United Russia):
  • Oleg Shalyapin (CPRF):
  • Aleksey Shpagin (SR-ZP):
    • Mikhail Irikov, chairman of the board of consumer society "Kirova 55"
    • Lyudmila Kharitonova, farmer
    • Gennady Lukyanchikov, wireman
  • Aleksandr Vasilyev (LDPR):
    • Vladimir Bystryakov, coordinator of the LPDR Penza city office
    • Pavel Kulikov, Deputy Head of Penza, member of Penza City Duma, coordinator of the LDPR Penza regional office
    • Vadim Serdovintsev, member of Nizhny Lomov Assembly of Representatives

Results

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Summary of the 17-19 September 2021 Penza Oblast gubernatorial election results
Candidate Party Votes %
Oleg Melnichenko (incumbent) United Russia 428,868 72.38
Oleg Shalyapin Communist Party 73,153 12.35
Aleksey Shpagin A Just Russia — For Truth 33,714 5.69
Aleksandr Vasilyev Liberal Democratic Party 33,593 5.67
Pyotr Chugay Party of Pensioners 13,650 2.30
Valid votes 582,978 98.39
Blank ballots 9,540 1.61
Total 592,518 100.00
Turnout 592,518 56.96
Registered voters 1,040,202 100.00
Source: [11]

Incumbent Senator Maria Lvova-Belova (United Russia) was re-appointed to the Federation Council.[12]

References

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