Russian Parliamentary Elections

[Ellinas]

Russians Vote

Over 100 million Russians are voting today for the election of 450 new members of the new Duma, in an electoral procedure that constitutes an informal referendum for President Vladimir Putin, who has stated that he will withdraw from the Kremlin in 2008, but preserve his leading political role. As per all polls Mr Putin’s party will be the winner with over 60%, while the Communist party and Zirinofski’s supranationals will win a place in Parliament. Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has abandoned its plans to send a big team of election observers to Russia after accusing the Russian government of imposing unacceptable restrictions and of deliberately delaying the issuing of visas. Germany from its side criticized Moscow for the restrictions. Chancellor Angela Merkel told Deutschland Funk that the elections were not organized in the right way, while Human Rights supporters were not allowed to express their views freely.

ERT

[half greek]

Putin's party wins majority in election

By Michael Stott Reuters

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's party won a large majority in Russia's election on Sunday, but opposition parties cried foul and vowed to contest results which the Kremlin hailed as a big endorsement for Putin.

First official results showed United Russia winning over 60 percent of the vote -- an outcome likely to be seen by the Kremlin as a strong mandate for Putin to maintain a position of influence after his final presidential term ends next year.

"The overwhelming majority of Russian voters spoke in favour of United Russia, thus supporting President Putin's course, and spoke in favour of it being continued after the current president's second term ends," a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Reuters after early results came in.

Election monitors reported widespread cases of ballot fraud, and the Communist Party, which is likely to be the biggest opposition force in the next parliament, said it would contest the election in the courts.

"These results are not fair. We intend to challenge them in the Supreme Court," said Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov. Stupid commie

Boris Nemtsov, whose small Union of Right-wing Forces opposition party fell short of the 7-percent hurdle needed to qualify for seats in parliament, was more outspoken.

"I have been in politics for 20 years and these are the most dishonest elections in the history of modern Russia. Putin won with the help of cynicism (and) lies," he said.

But head of the Central Election Commission, Vladimir Churov, a former colleague of Putin who was appointed election chief this year, dismissed the opposition allegations.

"I think there were no serious violations on polling day. At least during the voting not one party leader called me and no-one complained (to me)," Churov said.

Well done Mr Vlad