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Russians indifferent to Kremlin-flavoured elections
Moscow, Dec 03: Russia will elect a new Parliament on Sunday, but enthusiasm among the weary electorate is at a striking low as the Kremlin`s chosen party prepares to hoover up the ballots.
Moscow, Dec 03: Russia will elect a new Parliament on Sunday, but enthusiasm among the weary electorate is at a striking low as the Kremlin's chosen party prepares to hoover up the ballots.
Disillusionment after twelve years of unsatisfactory democracy and steady ''Putinization'' of life left its mark on voters who expect a convincing December 7 victory - and maybe even a rigged majority -for the United Russia Party that backs President Vladimir Putin and groups together many of his cohorts.
Putin, whose popularity rating is currently put at more than 70 per cent, has personally endorsed United Russia, and that's good enough for a decisive number of voters who still care. In mid-November, 70 per cent of Russians took little or no interest in the campaign, while only 29 per cent followed it, according to a survey of 1,600 people by the Vtsiom-a polling group.
In the final days of the campaign, surveys put United Russia's support at 29 per cent and rising fast, while its closest rival, the Communist Party and its following of mainly elderly voters, are on the retreat after peaking at optimistic 25 per cent support rating. Most of the other Liberal, Conservative, Nationalist, Green and Spiritual Parties and blocs that round out the pack of 23 contenders in this two-horse race will barely leave the stalls.
Only about five are expected to pass the five-per-cent threshold of votes needed for their proportional representation in the 450-seat state Duma.
After the two frontrunners come the ultra-nationalist LDPR of Populist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the union of right forces comprising old government ''reformers'', and the Liberal Yabloko party. But voter turnout still has to be 50 per cent for a first round to be valid, which under the gaze of around 1,000 foreign observers may be a worry for Election Commission Chief Alexander Veshnyakov.
His organization has been accused of manipulating results before, and one should not be dazzled by the western-made automated result collating equipment which will feature prominently in televised coverage on election day.
Bureau Report
Putin, whose popularity rating is currently put at more than 70 per cent, has personally endorsed United Russia, and that's good enough for a decisive number of voters who still care. In mid-November, 70 per cent of Russians took little or no interest in the campaign, while only 29 per cent followed it, according to a survey of 1,600 people by the Vtsiom-a polling group.
In the final days of the campaign, surveys put United Russia's support at 29 per cent and rising fast, while its closest rival, the Communist Party and its following of mainly elderly voters, are on the retreat after peaking at optimistic 25 per cent support rating. Most of the other Liberal, Conservative, Nationalist, Green and Spiritual Parties and blocs that round out the pack of 23 contenders in this two-horse race will barely leave the stalls.
Only about five are expected to pass the five-per-cent threshold of votes needed for their proportional representation in the 450-seat state Duma.
After the two frontrunners come the ultra-nationalist LDPR of Populist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the union of right forces comprising old government ''reformers'', and the Liberal Yabloko party. But voter turnout still has to be 50 per cent for a first round to be valid, which under the gaze of around 1,000 foreign observers may be a worry for Election Commission Chief Alexander Veshnyakov.
His organization has been accused of manipulating results before, and one should not be dazzled by the western-made automated result collating equipment which will feature prominently in televised coverage on election day.
Bureau Report