Sunday, December 4, 2011

Putin's party wins but suffers setback in Russian Duma Election


Today's parliamentary elections in Russia, Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia Party had won the day. Putin's United Russia Party won 49.5 percent of votes, a significant drop from their current two-thirds majority in parliament with a decline from 315 seats to around 220 in Russia's 450-seat State Duma - lower house of parliament after Sunday's election. Putin's party won 64 percent of the vote in 2007, but his party won 50 percent of votes in the last election.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation came in second to United Russia, polling 19.8 percent of the vote. Third and fourth were closely contested, according to exit polls, with the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia brining in 12.8 percent, and the centrist Fair Russia party gaining 11.4 percent.

In the meantime, the Communist Party, said in a statement
from its website, the elections were conducted largely systematic and lawlessness.

United Russia has been the country's leading political force for the better part of a decade. It was created by Putin in 2001. A strong showing in the parliamentary elections would be considered a boost to Putin's campaign for president, which will be decided in a vote 2012.