Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Duma campaign official

Russian election campaign opens

"Saturday [3 November] marks the official start of campaigning in the Russian parliamentary election.

"Russians will elect 450 members of the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, when they vote on 2 December.

"The support of President Vladimir Putin means one party is already virtually assured of a comfortable victory...

"Critics also cry foul over changes in the law since the last election.

"Voters are no longer allowed to cast their ballots against all candidates.

"A party used to have to get 5% of the vote to win seats in parliament, now it is seven.

"That being the case, recent opinion polls suggest only United Russia and the Russian Communist Party will pass the threshold.

"The Liberal Democratic party, led by the veteran Russian nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky and the newly formed A Just Russia also have a chance..."

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