The Influence of Opposition Governors on the Transformation of Regional Political Regimes

A system of appointing heads of regions has been operating In Russia for a long time. This has led to the specifics of modern studies of regional policy, where the acquisition of the post of head of the region is considered through affiliation with federal structures. The main attention was paid to the relationship between the head of the region and the federal government. The return of the election of the heads of regions led to the need for reorientation to the regional political space and relations with the main actors of the region. Recent electoral cycles have reflected that the return of the practice of electing regional leaders has allowed opposition parties to take the post of governor. Despite the familiar election model, which suggests that the elections will allow representatives of United Russia to take the post of head of the region, representatives of opposition political parties won in some regions. The paper presents an analysis of changes in the regional political regime after the victory of a candidate from the opposition party in the election of the head of the region in the Irkutsk, Vladimir regions, Khabarovsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia. The regional political regime is viewed through a three-dimensional model of characterization. The paper considers the relationship of the executive branch with the legislative, municipal, and federal authorities, the support of political parties, and the presence of federal control in the regions. The work is based on the analysis of legal acts, publications in the media, and the rating of the development of the media sphere. Based on the comparative case study, the general and particular characteristics of regional political regimes are revealed. The main chronological framework of the study dates from 2015 to April 2020, which is due to the first case when a representative of an opposition party won the election, becoming the head of the subject. But taking into account the comparison with the practices of the previous heads of the region, it is also supposed to include a period determining the term of office of the predecessor.