The authorities are discussing the possibility of refusing to accept unpopular initiatives from the fall of 2023

Before the start of the 2024 campaign, the authorities may pause the adoption of unpopular initiatives. Such an idea is being discussed in the internal political bloc of the presidential administration (AP), three sources close to the AP told Vedomosti.

The introduction of such a regime of silence is a normal practice, which is also used during campaigns at a lower level, says a source close to the AP. For example, before the gubernatorial elections, they monitor that the head of the region does not have to sign laws that will not be understood by people. A similar approach to the formation of the agenda and abroad, says another source of Vedomosti.

According to the plans being developed by the Presidential Administration, from the beginning of September 2023 until the beginning of April 2024, a moratorium will be introduced on the adoption of unpopular socially significant decisions. So far, this is a subject of discussion on Staraya Square, but it should be brought to other structures, one of the sources believes.

According to another interlocutor of Vedomosti, in general, it would be quite logical to pause the adoption of controversial decisions at different levels of government. This is about a careful approach to the initiatives being worked out – poorly worded NLAs should not offend people, says another interlocutor.

There is no reason to carry out unpopular reforms from September 2023, another source says, and if the campaign continues under the current conditions, no problems are expected. “Although it is clear that Western countries are trying to rock the country,” he notes. “For example, sanctions decisions are aimed at reducing income and increasing the deficit.”

Another Vedomosti source close to the Presidential Administration is aware of a moratorium on the adoption of unpopular legislative initiatives. According to him, the date of entry into force of some of them will be adjusted – postponed to a later date. Last week, the State Duma postponed to a later date (September 1, 2024) the date of entry into force of the law on the ban on disembarking stowaways with group I disabilities from public transport if they are traveling without an accompanying person. The “wrong” timing was criticized by the Communist Party.

It is logical if the actions of the authorities will be in the wake of the campaign concept (“pride”, “confidence”, “hope”), says one of the Vedomosti sources. For example, “confidence” suggests that the focus will be on solutions that will take effect in the near future and will cause the population to feel stable and secure, while “hope” suggests that initiatives should be planned for the future, until the conditional year 2030, which will lead to positive changes in the country.

When making important decisions regarding the economy, the social sphere, there is always a risk assessment, says political scientist Konstantin Kostin. In addition, the federal center can control the situation associated with populist initiatives that do not solve any problem other than increasing the media profile of their authors, he believes.

According to Kostin, the electoral behavior of citizens is primarily influenced by topics related to their income, level and quality of life: “And the current agenda includes security issues and its organization.” The introduction of the regime of silence will sanitize the agenda, political analyst Mikhail Vinogradov believes.

Electoral sentiment is influenced by laws that personally affect the majority, says political strategist Grigory Kazankov: “At the same time, many important initiatives, such as changes in tax or criminal legislation, often do not affect the behavior of voters.” But, in principle, most Russians consider rule-making something abstract.

For people, more practical things are more important – the price level, the possibility of planning in the long term, Kazankov says: “That is, the social well-being of citizens is important, the image of the future for the person himself. And here the smaller the possible planning horizon, the worse.