Putin's hold on Duma weakening
Source: Agencies |
December 6, 2011, Tuesday
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PRIME Minister Vladimir Putin's party saw its majority in Russia's parliament weaken sharply, according to preliminary election results.
United Russia is still expected to retain its majority in the lower house and Putin is all but certain to win next March's presidential election, but Sunday's vote reflected public frustration with the lack of political competition, official corruption and the gap between rich and poor.
With about 96 percent of precincts counted, United Russia was leading with 49.5 percent of the vote, Central Election Commission chief Vladimir Churov said yesterday.
He predicted that it will get 238 of the Duma's 450 seats, a sharp drop compared to the previous vote that landed the party a two-thirds majority in the State Duma, allowing it to change the constitution.
Final preliminary results were due to be announced yesterday morning, but the count dragged on longer than expected. Some opposition politicians alleged that election officials may manipulate the vote count to make sure that United Russia gets over the 50 percent mark.
Putin tried to put a positive spin on the returns, saying late Sunday that "we can ensure the stable development of the country with this result."
Seeing the declining fortunes of his party, Putin named his handpicked successor as president, Dmitry Medvedev, to lead United Russia's list. The vote will further weaken positions of Medvedev, whom Putin promised to name prime minister after the presidential vote.
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov said the vote spelled the end of Putin's "honeymoon" with the nation.
Security was tight in central Moscow with police trucks parked in some areas. Police said they arrested more than 100 protesters who tried to stage a rally in Moscow and about 70 others in St Petersburg.
The Communist Party appeared to benefit most from the vote, with early returns predicting it would get nearly 20 percent, up from less than 12 percent four years ago. The socialist Just Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party are also expected to increase their representation.
Putin should still have no problem getting his laws passed. Even the Communists posed only token opposition in the outgoing Duma, and the two other parties have consistently voted with United Russia.
Medvedev said United Russia would be ready to build coalitions in the new Duma, even though it will have a majority. He said he may fire governors of provinces where the party fared particularly badly.
About 60 percent of 110 million registered voters cast ballots, down from 64 percent four years ago.
Only seven parties were allowed to field candidates this year, while the most vocal opposition groups were barred from the race.
"The elections were unprecedented in terms of dirt, pressure and the use of a well-oiled falsification machine," Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said, alleging the vote was still being rigged as the count went on. His party said it had recorded violations at some 1,600 polling stations and would appeal results at each of them.
United Russia is still expected to retain its majority in the lower house and Putin is all but certain to win next March's presidential election, but Sunday's vote reflected public frustration with the lack of political competition, official corruption and the gap between rich and poor.
With about 96 percent of precincts counted, United Russia was leading with 49.5 percent of the vote, Central Election Commission chief Vladimir Churov said yesterday.
He predicted that it will get 238 of the Duma's 450 seats, a sharp drop compared to the previous vote that landed the party a two-thirds majority in the State Duma, allowing it to change the constitution.
Final preliminary results were due to be announced yesterday morning, but the count dragged on longer than expected. Some opposition politicians alleged that election officials may manipulate the vote count to make sure that United Russia gets over the 50 percent mark.
Putin tried to put a positive spin on the returns, saying late Sunday that "we can ensure the stable development of the country with this result."
Seeing the declining fortunes of his party, Putin named his handpicked successor as president, Dmitry Medvedev, to lead United Russia's list. The vote will further weaken positions of Medvedev, whom Putin promised to name prime minister after the presidential vote.
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov said the vote spelled the end of Putin's "honeymoon" with the nation.
Security was tight in central Moscow with police trucks parked in some areas. Police said they arrested more than 100 protesters who tried to stage a rally in Moscow and about 70 others in St Petersburg.
The Communist Party appeared to benefit most from the vote, with early returns predicting it would get nearly 20 percent, up from less than 12 percent four years ago. The socialist Just Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party are also expected to increase their representation.
Putin should still have no problem getting his laws passed. Even the Communists posed only token opposition in the outgoing Duma, and the two other parties have consistently voted with United Russia.
Medvedev said United Russia would be ready to build coalitions in the new Duma, even though it will have a majority. He said he may fire governors of provinces where the party fared particularly badly.
About 60 percent of 110 million registered voters cast ballots, down from 64 percent four years ago.
Only seven parties were allowed to field candidates this year, while the most vocal opposition groups were barred from the race.
"The elections were unprecedented in terms of dirt, pressure and the use of a well-oiled falsification machine," Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said, alleging the vote was still being rigged as the count went on. His party said it had recorded violations at some 1,600 polling stations and would appeal results at each of them.
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