Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party won in the eight regions that held elections in Russia on Sunday with between 43 and 70 percent of the votes cast. But it saw support fall by between nine and 24 percentage points in six regional parliaments compared to national election results in 2007, when it scored a landslide victory. Opposition parties said the elections were marred by widespread voting violations and complained that President Dmitry Medvedev had failed to follow through on a pledge for free and fair elections.
Opposition parties said the elections were marred by widespread voting violations and complained that President Dmitry Medvedev had failed to follow through on a pledge for free and fair elections.
NYT: Kremlin Sweeps Regional Elections
MOSCOW -- The pro-Kremlin party, United Russia, has again dominated regional elections, according to preliminary results released Monday, though opposition parties have made slight gains in a vote that has been seen as a test of President Dmitri A. Medvedev's call for greater political plurality in Russia. Voters chose new legislatures in eight regions on Sunday, and regional and municipal elections were held in 76 of Russia's 83 regions. United Russia, which is headed by the country's preeminent leader, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, chalked up landslide victories in all eight legislative elections and won four of five mayoral races. The party held large victory rallies throughout the country on Monday, including one in Moscow attended by 15,000 people, the party said.
Voters chose new legislatures in eight regions on Sunday, and regional and municipal elections were held in 76 of Russia's 83 regions.
United Russia, which is headed by the country's preeminent leader, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, chalked up landslide victories in all eight legislative elections and won four of five mayoral races. The party held large victory rallies throughout the country on Monday, including one in Moscow attended by 15,000 people, the party said.
The Commies did rather well, and continue to be the most viable opposition party. When the Western papers clamor for more democratic polls in Russia, to allow opposition parties more power, is it the Communist Party they envision as harbingers of a vibrant democracy, I wonder? "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
In other words, it's a totally harmless and useless opposition party, even if it's the only one to actually be organised and to fight for a few thing on behalf of its (aging) voters... Wind power
The Communist Party is at least a genuine party seeking to provide a center left alternative to the center right UR. They are a hell of a lot more of a "legitimate" opposition than the disorganized micro-parties which have little to no popular support but are most vocal in their opposition to the Kremlin. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
