Survey of political parties

Can Putin be called a dictator?

In theory, Putin could remain in power until 2036.

(Bild: Sputnik)

Vladimir Putin will be confirmed as Russian President in the coming days. Election observers, historians and political scientists say that this election does not deserve its name and that a dictator is at work here. Do the domestic parties see it the same way? krone.at asked - with a quite surprising result!

Kremlin leader Putin is currently heading for a fifth term in office. His compatriots have until Sunday to cast their votes. They don't really have a choice. The only serious opponents have been removed from the ballot paper, driven into political exile or - like Alexei Navalny - literally cleared out of the way. 

In Europe, there is talk of "pseudo-elections". The Belarusian ruler and Putin henchman Alexander Lukashenko was long regarded as Europe's last dictator. In the perception of many, this list has had to be extended by one entry at the latest since the invasion of Ukraine. In their editorials, Western media call on state leaders not to recognize Putin's expected landslide victory and to call the Kremlin leader what he is: a dictator.

Putin has largely undermined democratic structures:

So what is the state of the reviled Russian democracy? Can Putin be described as a dictator? And should the election be recognized at all? krone.at put these three questions to the domestic parties.

Answer NEOS

"Enemy of a sovereign Europe"

The NEOS and their EU lead candidate Helmut Brandstätter are among the most vocal critics of the Kremlin in Austria. The former journalist has often referred to Putin as a dictator in the past. A spokeswoman for his party is somewhat more cautious ...

Assessment of the democratic situation: Russia is no longer a liberal democracy. Political prisoners, restricted freedom of expression and a lack of opposition demonstrate this dramatically on a daily basis.

Is Putin a dictator? Putin is certainly a warmonger and suspected war criminal and an enemy of a sovereign Europe.

Will your party recognize the Kremlin leader's re-election and congratulate him accordingly? As a matter of principle, we do not take part in the post-election congratulations, but we certainly do not congratulate someone who invades countries, puts liberal politicians on wanted lists and threatens them with nuclear weapons.

FPÖ response

"Not of primary interest"

The Freedom Party has repeatedly been accused of having problematic links with Russia. Foreign policy spokesperson Susanne Fürst did not want to answer questions from krone.at explicitly. 

Answer FPÖ: " As an Austrian party, we focus all our attention on the tasks in Austria. We also endeavor to maintain equidistance from both the USA and Russia. The issues surrounding the Russian presidential election are therefore not of primary interest to the FPÖ. There are enough experts who know more about the situation in Russia. Whether the FPÖ or other parties recognize an election in another country is probably not important for Russia either. Congratulations are not planned.

Response from the Greens

"Dictatorial rule"

The Greens have recently spoken out in favor of extending sanctions against Russia. Foreign policy spokesperson Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic condemns the current events.

Assessment of the democratic situation: We condemn the so-called "elections" in the occupied regions of Ukraine, which we see as part of Moscow's attempts to consolidate its illegal occupation and annexation. These elections are neither fair nor free - all political competitors are being ruthlessly eliminated. As an election observer, I criticize the Kremlin's decision not to invite OSCE observers in the first place. This way, no one is watching the events. If Putin had nothing to hide, he would at least allow transparency here.

Is Putin a dictator? Russia is not a democracy, but a dictatorial regime. 

Will your party recognize the Kremlin leader's re-election and congratulate him accordingly? These are not elections, but a platform for fake news. I don't see what there is to congratulate.

ÖVP response

"Take note of that"

The ÖVP has repeatedly called Putin an aggressor and condemned the invasion of Ukraine. According to the People's Party, the Kremlin leader's actions stand for themselves, a spokesperson said when asked.

Assessment of the democratic situation: " Putin's Russia is an authoritarian state - the opposition is suppressed, there is no free media and the elections are anything but democratic. We don't want these conditions in Austria, but we see the danger that some parties in Austria want the same for our country.

Is Putin a dictator? His treatment of the remaining opposition and civil society speaks volumes. There is no need for any discussion about terminology. It doesn't help the people of Russia either.

Will your party recognize the Kremlin leader's re-election and congratulate him accordingly? There is hardly any doubt that Putin will be re-elected. We take note of that.

SPÖ response

"Neither free nor fair"

The Social Democrats maintained good contacts with Russia before the war. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a speech in the National Council last year via video link, more than half of the seats in the red parliamentary club were left empty. The result was a wave of outrage and an apology from the Social Democrats. The SPÖ wants to distance itself more clearly from "Putin's regime", a party spokesperson announced. 

Assessment of the democratic situation: Russia is ruled in an authoritarian manner. Fundamental and human rights are being increasingly restricted and the opposition is being suppressed, including with political persecution for decades, as most recently demonstrated by the murder of Kremlin critic Navalny by the Putin regime. Oligarchic structures play a key role in Russia. The presidential election is neither free nor fair.

Is Putin a dictator? Putin leads an authoritarian regime that acts in an imperialistic and brutal manner and despises human rights. There are enough reasons to call Putin a dictator. In contrast to Russia, anyone in Austria can also exercise their right to freedom of expression and call him that.

Will your party recognize the Kremlin leader's re-election and congratulate him accordingly? Putin will remain President of Russia. The fact is that the election is not democratic. It is neither free nor fair. There will be no congratulations from the SPÖ.

Answer KPÖ

"Yes"

The recent history of the Communists is characterized by missteps: In 2021, a KPÖ district councillor praised the alleged "freedom of the press" on Belarusian state television. In 2019, a comrade posed with pro-Russian separatists in the "Donetsk People's Republic" proclaimed by Putin. Since the war in Ukraine, the KPÖ has been trying to present a different image. The Federal Executive Board announced the following.

Assessment of the democratic situation: Very bad, the imprisonment of political opponents is to be strongly condemned.

Is Putin a dictator? Yes, based on clerical nationalism and oligarch capitalism.

Will your party recognize the Kremlin leader's re-election and congratulate him accordingly? No, we do not congratulate other autocrats either.

No answer

Beer Party

The Beer Party was not in a position to answer krone.at's questions within the set deadline of several hours. The request was "too short notice", as party leader Dominik Wlazny was on tour with his band Turbobier.