2024 Kalmyk head election

The 2024 Republic of Kalmykia head election will take place on 6–8 September 2024, on common election day. Incumbent Head Batu Khasikov is running to a second term in office.

2024 Kalmyk head election

← 2019 6–8 September 2024 2029 →

Head before election

Batu Khasikov
United Russia

Head-elect

TBD

Background

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Former Federation Council member (2012–2014) and professional kickboxer Batu Khasikov was appointed acting Head of Kalmykia in March 2019.[1] He overwhelmingly won the subsequent general election in September 2019 with 82.54% of the vote.[2] Khasikov also appointed his predecessor, Aleksey Orlov, to the Federation Council after the election.[3]

Khasikov's first term was tumultuous as already in September–October 2019, mere weeks after Khasikov's election, protests swept through the republic as people opposed the appointment of Orlov to the Federation Council and nomination of DNR official Dmitry Trapeznikov as Mayor of Elista.[4] Despite the protests, the nominations were never withdrawn. In October 2020 leaders of three factions in the People's Khural of KalmykiaCommunist Party, A Just Russia and, even, United Russia – wrote an open letter to President Vladimir Putin, where they accused Khasikov of mishandling of Covid-19 pandemic, lack of support for farmers, and general negligence.[5]

In the 2021 Russian legislative election United Russia underperformed in Kalmykia as the party lost 18 points compared to 2016 election.[6] Nevertheless, Khasikov was able to get his ally Badma Bashankayev a seat in the State Duma, who in turn in the primaries defeated incumbent Marina Mukabenova, who was viewed as potential replacement for Khasikov.[7] Batu Khasikov also strengthened his positions after the 2023 Kalmykia parliamentary election, when United Russia retained its majority winning 23 out of 27 seats,[8] and, importantly for Khasikov, when his critics, like former United Russia faction leader Saglar Bakinova, lost their seats in the Khural.

In May 2024 during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin Head Khasikov announced his intention to run for a second term and received Putin's endorsement.[9]

Candidates

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In the Republic of Kalmykia candidates for Head can be nominated only by registered political parties. Candidate for Head of the Republic of Kalmykia should be a Russian citizen and at least 30 years old. Candidates for Head should not have a foreign citizenship or residence permit. Each candidate in order to be registered is required to collect at least 9% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities.[10] Also head candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.

In late April 2024 People's Khural of Kalmykia made amendments to the electoral law, lowering the municipal filter from 9% to 7%.[11]

Declared

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Candidate name,
political party
Occupation Status Ref.
Aysa Bayanova
New People
Gymnasium deputy principal Nominated [12]
Batu Khasikov
United Russia
  Incumbent Head of the Republic of Kalmykia (2019–present) Nominated [9][13]
Yury Khrushchev
Liberal Democratic Party
Coordinator of LDPR regional office (2021–present) Nominated [14]
Natalya Manzhikova
SR–ZP
Member of People's Khural of Kalmykia (2018–present)
2019 head candidate
Nominated [15]
Mikhail Namruyev
Communist Party
Former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Kalmykia (2017–2018) Nominated [16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Путин принял отставку Алексея Орлова. Врио главы Калмыкии стал Бату Хасиков". tass.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. ^ "Хасиков победил на выборах главы Калмыкии". tass.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  3. ^ "Хасиков назначил сенатором от Калмыкии экс-главу региона Орлова". tass.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. ^ "Алексей Орлов не оставил Калмыкию". kommersant.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  5. ^ "Бату Хасиков снискал себе персональное обращение". kommersant.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  6. ^ ""Единая Россия" победила на выборах в Госдуму в Калмыкии". ria.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. ^ "Андрей Серенко: После Хасикова калмыки готовы принять в главы республики и женщину, и русского, и силовика". club-rf.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  8. ^ "В Калмыкии утвердили итоги выборов в Народный хурал". elista.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  9. ^ a b "Встреча с главой Калмыкии Бату Хасиковым". kremlin.ru. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  10. ^ "Закон "О выборах Главы Республики Калмыкия" от 29 июня 2012 года N 360-IV-З (с изменениями на 15 декабря 2022 года)". docs.cntd.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  11. ^ "Депутаты Калмыкии снизили муниципальный фильтр для кандидатов на пост главы региона". tass.ru. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  12. ^ "Баянова Айса Сергеевна". kalmyk.vybory.izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  13. ^ "Хасиков Бату Сергеевич". kalmyk.vybory.izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  14. ^ "Хрущев Юрий Михайлович". kalmyk.vybory.izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  15. ^ "Манжикова Наталья Сергеевна". kalmyk.vybory.izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  16. ^ "Намруев Михаил Гоогуевич". kalmyk.vybory.izbirkom.ru. Retrieved 2024-06-17.