New People
Новые люди
ChairmanAlexey Nechayev
Deputy ChairmanAlexander Davankov
FounderAlexey Nechayev
Founded1 March 2020 (2020-03-01)
Headquarters22nd building, Malaya Yakimanka Street
Moscow, Russia
Ideology
Political positionCentre[4] to centre-right[2]
National affiliationAll-Russia People's Front
Union of Progressive Political Forces
Colours  Turquoise
  Black
Seats in the Federation Council
0 / 170
Seats in the State Duma
15 / 450
Seats in the Regional Parliaments
34 / 3,987
Website
newpeople.ru
Alexey Nechayev, founder and current leader of the party

New People (Russian: Новые люди, romanized: Novyye lyudi) is a political party in Russia formed in 2020. New People is considered a liberal party, and observers also often refer to it as centrist[4] or centre-right.[2]

The party opposes many policies of the incumbent United Russia government, although it has adopted an agnostic to moderately supportive stance towards Vladimir Putin specifically. It's abstention in the vote to recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics is an example.[5] It has therefore been described by critics as a spoiler that attracts young and liberal voters.[6]

New People is led by cosmetic company Faberlic founder Alexey Nechayev since its first part congress, held on August 8, 2020, in Moscow. Alexander Davankov is the head of the party executive committee.[7]

The party won 5.43% of the nationwide vote in the 2021 Russian legislative election, gaining 13 seats.[8]

History

Party faction in the 8th State Duma during meeting with finance minister Anton Siluanov

In January 2020, Alexey Nechayev announced the party's creation to the media.

On 1 March 2020, the constituent congress of New People was held. 55 party regional branches were created. Official party registration was received from the Russian Ministry of Justice at the end of March.[9]  

In April 2020, the party sent an appeal to the State Duma and the Federation Council and called on them to adopt additional laws eliminating contradictions in respect of the absence of an official emergency regime in the country.[10]

As of 1 July 2020, New People had 55 registered regional branches, which began preparing to take part in the regional elections of September 2020 in 12 regions of the country. Also, the party declared its readiness and intent to take part in the elections to the State Duma in 2021.[11][12]

On 8 August 2020, the second congress of the party was held in Moscow at which its founder Alexey Nechayev was elected chairman of the party.

At the end of 2020, the party announced that its election campaign for the State Duma of the VIII convocation would be led by the well-known political strategist Yevgeny Minchenko.

On 4 July 2021, a party congress was held at which the party's list and candidates for participation in the 2021 legislative election were nominated. Party leader Alexey Nechaev headed the federal list of the party. The second number in the federal list was the former Mayor of Yakutsk Sardana Avksentyeva.[13]

According to the election results, the party gained 5.3% of the vote, winning 13 seats in the State Duma. New People became the first party not from the "big four" (United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and A Just Russia — For Truth) since 2007 to overcome the 5% barrier and form its own faction.[14] In addition to the 13 deputies elected on the party list of the party, the New People faction also included two independent deputies elected in single-mandate constituencies: Dmitry Pevtsov and Oleg Leonov.[15]

On 15 February 2022, New People's Duma faction voted against the recognition of the separatist regions of Ukraine as independent states. In a statement the party warned against jeopardizing peace and human lives in an escalating Ukraine conflict and accused the political leadership of distracting from internal affairs by seeking conflict with other nations.[16] However, the party later withdrew its statement and proclaimed its support for the invasion.[17]

On 16 August 2022, the party called for Instagram to be unblocked.[18]

On 24 December 2023, it was reported that the Party of Growth will be merged with New People, both parties are already part of the informal political alliance Union of Progressive Political Forces.[19]

Ideology

According to electronic media, the party's goal is to "reorient the state" from caring for officials to serving citizens.[20][21]

The party has a centre-right ideology and considers self-employed people, as well as representatives of small business, its social base. It combines support for the values of popular capitalism such as private property, a competitive economy, a decrease in the state's share in governing the country, with a social agenda, the rights of people with disabilities and an accessible barrier-free environment, as well as environmental issues, animal protection, garbage collection problems.[11]

An important part of the party's position is the renewal and modernization of management systems and political institutions. Support for the development of modern technologies, science and education is declared.[22]

The party attracts social entrepreneurs and activists from the regions as candidates, focusing on the regional agenda.[23]

  • The party proposes to make electable positions of heads of city and regional police departments, district inspectors, prosecutors and mayors of cities. They also raise the issue of banning one person from holding one position more than twice in a lifetime.[22]
  • The party also proposes to reduce the number of state structures and officials, to reduce the powers of police and other government security structures, which the party members call inflated, to limit the costs of maintaining officials and state top managers.[24]
  • The party considers it necessary to carry out a large-scale reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other power structures. One of their proposals for reform is to double the salaries of ordinary police officers.[25]
  • It is important for the party to shift budget funding from Moscow to the construction of infrastructure and job creation in the regions. The party also demands that each person be provided free of charge land for the construction of his own house or estate no further than 150 km from the place of actual residence.[26]
  • Related to this is the theme of road construction and road safety announced by the New People. The statements of the party representatives contain specific measures related to the establishment of warranty periods for road repairs, the prohibition of "mobile ambushes", the dismantling of 50% of traffic cameras and the installation of separators on the highways.[27]
  • Party leader Alexey Nechayev and other party members have repeatedly proposed to increase the border of the special tax regime for the self-employed to 5 million rubles of income per year.[28] Another important aspect of stimulating business, from the point of view of the party, is to start teaching children the basics of entrepreneurship and financial literacy at school.[29]
  • A number of specific nutrition and health initiatives have also been added to the party program. The party is in favor of increasing the federal subsidy for school and pre-school meals by at least 50%, as well as a ban on harmful substances (antibiotics, trans fats and growth hormones) in the food of Russians.[30]
  • The party declares that all enterprises that harm the health of Russians are obliged to reduce the harmful effect: either modernize production or close down.[30]
  • The electoral barrier for the passage of parties to the State Duma "New People" propose to reduce from 5% of the number of voters to 1 million votes. Elections are proposed to be held in electronic form, and for participation in them, citizens should be awarded incentive points for paying for housing and communal services or taxes.[24]
  • The party proposes to increase the participation of citizens in state and municipal government by expanding the practice of people's budgeting.
  • The party stands for the abolition of laws used to implement state censorship: in particular, the law on extremism and the law on insulting government officials.[30]

Elections

On 1 June 2020, the Ministry of Justice added the party to the list of associations eligible to participate in elections.[31]

Election commissions did not allow party lists to participate in the elections in the Belgorod and Voronezh Oblasts, as well as to the elections to the city duma of Rostov-on-Don, by rejecting voters signatures.[32][33][34][35]

On the Single Election Day, 13 September 2020, the party overcame the electoral barrier in all four regions where it participated, namely in Novosibirsk (7.0%), Kaluga (8.08%), Ryazan (5.7%) and Kostroma (7.5%). The party also took part in the elections to the Tomsk City Duma having received 10,945 votes.[36]

In the elections to the city duma of Krasnodar, the election commission announced the party's result in 4.97% of votes.[37] Party candidates also took part in municipal elections in Samara and Nizhny Novgorod.[38]

The party ranked second in terms of financial expenditures in the elections in the third quarter of 2020, spending 179 million rubles, after United Russia with 261 million rubles.[39]

Election results

Federal parliamentary elections

Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Rank Government
2021 Alexey Nechayev 2,997,676 5.32
13 / 450
 5th Opposition

Regional parliamentary elections

Regional parliaments of Russia in which New People is represented.

Regional parliament Election year and amount of Seats Current seats Next election
No. Position
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
 Republic of Karelia 0 1
1 / 36
 2026
 Kamchatka Krai 0 1
1 / 28
 2026
 Krasnoyarsk Krai 0 2
2 / 52
 2026
 Perm Krai 0 2
2 / 60
 2026
 Amur Oblast 0 1
1 / 27
 2026
 Astrakhan Oblast 0 1
1 / 44
 2026
 Kaluga Oblast 2
2 / 40
 3rd[lower-alpha 1] 2025
 Kirov Oblast 0 1
1 / 40
 2026
 Kursk Oblast 0 1
1 / 45
 2026
 Kostroma Oblast 1
1 / 35
 4th[lower-alpha 1] 2025
 Lipetsk Oblast 0 1
1 / 42
 2026
 Moscow Oblast 0 1
1 / 52
 2026
 Nizhny Novgorod Oblast 0 1
1 / 52
 2026
 Novgorod Oblast 0 1
1 / 32
 2026
 Novosibirsk Oblast 3
3 / 76
 4th 2025
 Omsk Oblast 0 2
2 / 44
 2026
 Oryol Oblast 0 1
1 / 50
 2026
 Pskov Oblast 0 1
1 / 26
 3rd[lower-alpha 1] 2026
 Ryazan Oblast 1
1 / 40
 4th[lower-alpha 1] 2025
 Sakhalin Oblast 0 0 2
2 / 28
 2nd[lower-alpha 1] 2027
 Samara Oblast 0 1
1 / 50
 4th[lower-alpha 1] 2026
 Saratov Oblast 0 0 1
1 / 45
 5th[lower-alpha 1] 2027
 Sverdlovsk Oblast 0 2
2 / 50
 2026
 Saint Petersburg 0 3
3 / 50
 4th 2026

Leaders

  1. Irena Lukyanova,[40] 1 March – 8 August 2020
  2. Alexey Nechayev,[41] since 8 August 2020

Criticism

The party, like other new parties that appeared at the beginning of 2020, is accused of spoiling, justifying this opinion by the fact of quick registration and the absence of obstacles from the authorities.[42] In addition, the leader of the New People, Alexey Nechayev, is a member of the Central Council of the All-Russia People's Front, headed by Vladimir Putin. The party is also accused of having links with the current government. So, in December 2020, the party's campaign was headed by political strategist Yevgeny Minchenko, who is close to the presidential administration.[43] According to Open Media sources in the party leadership, Nechayev's entourage and the presidential administration, the new composition of the campaign headquarters should adjust the party's strategy so that the constitutional majority in the State Duma remains with United Russia, and the New People return to their electoral niche - educated middle class aged 18-30.[44]

Pavel Salin, director of the Center for Political Science Research at the Financial University under the Government, called the party "a spoiler for street protest activity".[45]

According to the results of the investigation by MBKh Media, the popularity of the party was ensured not so much by the creativity of its members or the "marathon of ideas", but by the promotion strategy in the regions. MBKh Media came to this conclusion in the course of studying the party's partnerships with regional media. Several media managers in different editions of the Central Federal District and the Southern Federal District confirmed to MBKh Media the facts of cooperation with the party without formalizing the relevant documents and complying with the law on advertising. Publications publish the materials needed by New People, covering its activities in a positive light, for money, without making a mandatory note about it in publications, as required by Russian law.[46][47]

In the Legislative Assembly of Omsk Oblast, New People party opposed including on the agenda of the next session the issue of returning direct elections of mayors and district heads, although such an item was in their election program. At the same time, before the elections to the State Duma of the 8th convocation, the party spoke in its program about the need to return direct elections, the leader of New People, Nechayev, stated this at the federal level. As Ilya Smirnov, leader of New People faction in the Legislative Assembly of Omsk Oblast, later explained, the faction opposed the inclusion of the CPRF bill on the agenda, because the explanatory note to the bill stated that the bill would not require additional budget expenditures, while the mayoral elections cost money.[48]

The initiative of Sardana Avksentyeva to allow the law of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation to take measures to regulate the number of certain species of animals without owners on the basis of a local referendum received resonance.[49] A little over a week later, a different bill of all factions[50] except the CPRF was introduced into the State Duma, with the participation of Avksentyeva and her party colleague, Georgy Arapov, supported by the Government.[51] During the voting, New People party, with the exception of the co-authors of the supported bill (and Avksentyeva voted only in the first reading), opposed both initiatives.[52][53]

During the gubernatorial elections of Altai Krai scheduled for 8-10 September 2023, the New People candidate Vladislav Vakaev, who spent 20 million rubles on his campaign, withdrew his candidacy in mid-August and supported the current governor from United Russia, Viktor Tomenko.[54] The regional branch of the party called the act of its nominee a betrayal.[55]

Sanctions

In December 2022 the EU sanctioned New People in relation to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[56]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tied with other parties.

References

  1. ↑ Partija "Novyie Ljudi" (NL) (tr. "Party "New People"") Liberalism www.parties-and-elections.eu
  2. 1 2 3 Alexey Markov (2 September 2020). "What's New New People bring to Russian politics". radiokp.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Мы - партия «Новые люди» (tr. "We are the New People Party ") newpeople.ru
  4. 1 2 "In Russia, Communists Are Standing Up Against Putin's Fraud". Jacobin. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2022. Among other parties, the social-democratic "A Just Russia" took 7.5 percent, the centrist "New People" 5 percent, and the far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia its worst showing in recent history, with 7.5 percent backing.
  5. ↑ "Russia". Europe Elects. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "Looking for Something New in Russia's 'New People' Party". The New York Times. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "В России создали партию "Новые люди"" [New people party created in Russia]. РИА Новости (in Russian). 1 March 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Regulations for federal candidates elections". www.consultant.ru. 19 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "«Новые люди» спрятались от старых" ["New people" hid from the old ones]. onf.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Партийцы призвали Госдуму и Совфед отменить "режим ХЗ" и ввести борьбу с эпидемией в законные рамки" [The party members called on the State Duma and the Federation Council to cancel the "XZ regime" and introduce the fight against the epidemic within the legal framework]. Открытые Медиа (in Russian). 23 April 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Party of New People created in Russia". 360tv.ru (in Russian). March 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "Партия основателей Faberlic сообщила о допуске к региональным выборам" [Faberlic founding party announces admission to regional elections]. РБК (in Russian). Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Алексей Нечаев и Сардана Авксентьева возглавили список партии "Новые люди" на выборах в Госдуму" [Alexei Nechaev and Sardana Avksentieva topped the list of the New People party in the elections to the State Duma]. МК.RU (in Russian). Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  14. ↑ ""Протестный избиратель пошел искать другой способ канализировать свой протест"" [The protest voter went looking for another way to channel his protest]. ZNAK (in Russian). Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Певцов и Леонов войдут во фракцию "Новые люди" Госдумы VIII созыва" [Pevtsov and Leonov will join the "New People" faction of the State Duma of the VIII convocation]. ТАСС (in Russian). Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Новые люди против войны" [New people against war]. Партия Новые люди. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  17. ↑ Zamakhina, Tatiana (24 February 2022). ""New People" Agree that the World Cannot Solve the Problem with Ukraine". rg.ru. Russian Gazette. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "Новые люди предложили разблокировать Instagram".
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ "Политическая партия "Новые Люди"" [Political party "New People"]. Министерство юстиции Российской Федерации (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Партия основателей Faberlic сообщила о допуске к региональным выборам" [Faberlic founding party announces admission to regional elections]. РБК (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Осень перемен - Аргументы Недели" [Autumn of Changes - Arguments of the Week]. argumenti.ru. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  23. ↑ "Есть запрос" [Have a request]. www.mk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Полиция должна стать бережной, а правда — истиной" [The police must become careful, and the truth - the truth]. Коммерсантъ. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  25. ↑ "Для реальной реформы МВД надо сделать всего три шага" [Only three steps need to be taken for a real reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs]. www.mk.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  26. ↑ "Лучшие проекты – в Москву. НОВЫЕ ЛЮДИ Костромы отправились покорять столицу" [The best projects go to Moscow. NEW PEOPLE of Kostroma set off to conquer the capital]. Kostroma.Today (in Russian). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  27. ↑ "Алексей Нечаев, основатель партии "Новые люди": Есть простые способы сделать дороги безопаснее" [Alexei Nechaev, founder of the New People party: There are simple ways to make roads safer]. Дни ру (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  28. ↑ "Россия будет прирастать самозанятыми" [Russia will grow self-employed]. Газета.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  29. ↑ "Партия "Новые люди" пойдет на выборы гордумы Томска" [Party "New People" will go to the elections of the City Duma of Tomsk]. vtomske.ru (in Russian). 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  30. 1 2 3 "Основные положения программы Политической партии "Новые Люди"" [The main provisions of the program of the Political Party "New People"]. Российская газета (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  31. ↑ "Минюст РФ разрешил партии основателей компании Faberlic участвовать в выборах" [The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation allowed the party of the founders of Faberlic to participate in elections]. ТАСС. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  32. ↑ ""Яблоко", "Новых людей" и "Партию Роста" не пустили на выборы в гордуму Ростова" ["Yabloko", "New People" and "Party of Growth" were not allowed to vote in the Rostov City Duma]. 161.ru (in Russian). 13 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  33. ↑ ""Новые люди" не смогли зарегистрироваться на выборы в белгородскую облдуму" ["New people" could not register for elections to the Belgorod Regional Duma]. www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  34. ↑ "Воронежский избирком забраковал список "Новых людей" на выборы в облдуму" [Voronezh electoral committee rejected the list of "New people" for elections to the regional Duma]. www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  35. ↑ "Партия "Новые люди" собрала в Воронеже больше 50 тыс. подписей в свою поддержку" [The New People party has collected more than 50,000 signatures in its support in Voronezh]. Вести Воронеж (in Russian). 27 July 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  36. ↑ ""Конечно, будем участвовать в выборах в Госдуму"" [Of course, we will participate in the elections to the State Duma]. Газета.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  37. ↑ "Депутатский расклад" [Deputy layout]. Коммерсантъ. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  38. ↑ "ЦИК подвела предварительные итоги выборов" [The CEC summed up the preliminary results of the elections]. РБК (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  39. ↑ "Партия "Новые люди" стала второй по доходам после "Единой России". В ТОП-10 не попала "Справедливая Россия"" [The New People party became the second in terms of income after United Russia. "Fair Russia" did not get into the TOP-10]. Открытые Медиа (in Russian). 30 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  40. ↑ "«Новые люди» спрятались от старых" ["New people" hid from the old ones]. www.kommersant.ru. March 2020.
  41. ↑ "Алексей Нечаев стал председателем партии "Новые люди"" [Alexei Nechaev became chairman of the New People party]. РИА Новости (in Russian). 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  42. ↑ "В партийном инкубаторе власти вылупились новые гомункулы". Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  43. ↑ "«Новым людям» напомнили их место. Кампанию возглавил политтехнолог Минченко". Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  44. ↑ "«Новых людей» попросили отдохнуть. Партии Нечаева помешают получить крупную фракцию по итогам выборов Госдумы". 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  45. ↑ ""Новые люди» позвали «старых"". 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  46. ↑ "Новые люди с черной кассой. Как партия «Новые люди» стала «популярной в регионах»". ИА Запад24 (in Russian). Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  47. ↑ "Новые люди с черной кассой. Как партия «Новые люди» стала «популярной в регионах»". МБХ медиа — новости, тексты, видео, подкасты (in Russian). 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  48. ↑ "Telegram: Contact @partynewpeople". Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  49. ↑ "Законопроект о праве регионов самим определять меры борьбы с бездомными собаками внесён в Госдуму". ИА REX. 3 April 2023.
  50. ↑ "Покатились глаза собачьи. Почему «ответственное обращение с животными» в России хотят заменить на убийства". Медиазона. 2 May 2023.
  51. ↑ "Правительство поддержало право регионов усыплять бродячих собак". РБК. 25 April 2023.
  52. ↑ "Живодерство или защита: что важно знать о законе о безнадзорных животных". РБК. 17 May 2023.
  53. ↑ "Первое чтение. О проекте федерального закона № 328021-8 «О внесении изменений в Федеральный закон «Об ответственном обращении с животными и о внесении изменений в отдельные законодательные акты Российской Федерации» (в части обращения с животными без владельцев)". 20 July 2023.
  54. ↑ "Кандидат «Новых людей» на пост главы Алтайского края потратил на кампанию 20 млн рублей. Теперь он снялся с выборов и поддержал губернатора". The Insider. 15 August 2023.
  55. ↑ "«Новые люди» назвали предательством отказ кандидата в губернаторы от участия в выборах". Коммерсантъ. 15 August 2023.
  56. ↑ "COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/2477 of 16 December 2022". Retrieved 8 February 2023.
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