Power Time on the Clocks of the Constitutional Court of Russian Federation

The article examines the Conclusion of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on the amendment to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, dedicated to improve the regulation of certain issues of the organization and functioning of public authorities. The article analyzes the arguments of the Court, cited by it in favor of the provision concerning the granting of the current Russian president the opportunity to be elected to the corresponding position beyond the terms established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It is indicated that the choice of constitutional values made by the legislator carries a legal component and, as such, can be considered by the Constitutional Court within the framework of its special competence of the supreme body of constitutional control. The constitutional amendment is viewed from the perspective of the rule prohibiting retroactive effect of the law. The representative power, contrary to the logic of the legislative process, has given retroactive effect to a norm that actually worsens the situation of voters, since they now have to choose between competitors, one of whom - the current president - has a number of actual advantages over the others. Participation of the incumbent head of state in the election campaign beyond the time limit established by law restricts freedom of electoral competition. The article concludes that the Russian constitutional legislator has departed from the principle of change of power inherent in the republican form of government. Legislative novels of this kind are inconsistent with the idea of real democracy. The legal position of the Constitutional Court on this amendment violated the rule on the unity of judicial practice, which requires that similar decisions be made in similar situations. The legal position of the Constitutional Court on this amendment violated the rule on the unity of judicial practice, which requires that similar decisions be made in similar situations.

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