The 2021 Republic of Mordovia head election will take place on 17–19 September 2021, on common election day, coinciding with election to the State Duma. Acting Head Artyom Zdunov was elected for his first full term.[1]
Vladimir Volkov was the Head of the Republic of Mordovia since 2012, but he is a fixture in Mordovian politics after serving as Prime Minister of Mordovia in 1995-2012 under Nikolay Merkushkin. Volkov won his latest and only election in with 89.19% of the vote.[2] On 18 November 2020 Vladimir Volkov asked Russian President Vladimir Putin about his retirement, and Putin appointed Artyom Zdunov as acting Head of Mordovia.[3] Zdunov, an ethnic Mordvin, previously served as Prime Minister of Dagestan in 2018-2020 and Minister of Economy of Tatarstan in 2014-2018.[4] Under Merkushkin and VolkovMordovia was considered an "electoral sultanate" - a Russian region with high administrative control over voting process which results in consistent support for rulling United Russia, so the September head election is characterised as uncompetitive and predictable.[5]
Candidates[]
Only political parties can nominate candidates for head election in Mordovia, self-nomination is not possible. However, candidate is not obliged to be a member of the nominating party. Candidate for Head of the Republic of Mordovia 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 7% of signatures of members and heads of municipalities (184–193 signatures).[6] Also gubernatorial candidates present 3 candidacies to the Federation Council and election winner later appoints one of the presented candidates.
