Honestly, he probably would. That, I believe, counts as an abstention.
Where are the imperialists? I think that, to make the politics of the region more interesting in the future, that Ryazania should be split into as many spheres of interest as possible, but I don't want to vote for colonies myself...
Damn story/principle conflict! I vote against colonies because nobody else is ever going to, and look where it gets me.
This ONE time, the worst time possible, everyone is anti-colony.
[/rant]