The Importance of Checks and Balances in Post-Soviet Russia

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In October 1993, a critical event unfolded in post-Soviet Russia as President Boris Yeltsin bombed the Russian Parliament building due to a dispute over the passage of a new constitution. The debate centered around establishing a system with strong checks and balances, shifting towards a parliamentary model, and empowering the vice president. Yeltsin, focused on personal power, aimed for a top-down system resembling the American or French presidencies, raising concerns about the balance of power in the nascent Russian political landscape.

Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, and in many places, populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. Fiona Hill, who served as senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council in the Trump White House from 2017 to 2019, tells Martin Wolf about the parallels she sees between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, why she believes the US Congress has failed and how she will not be breathing a sigh of relief if President Joe Biden wins in the November polls. Clips: The Times, The Sunday Times, CSpan

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Martin Wolf column: Fascism has changed, but it is not dead

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This episode is presented by Martin Wolf. The producer is Sandra Kanthal. Production help from Sonja Hutson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Nigel Appleton. The FT's global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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