Pro-Kremlin Party Tastes Victory
December 7, 2003
According to exit polls, the Kremlin-backed United Russia party pulled in 37 percent of votes, far ahead of the main opposition Communist Party, which garnered roughly 15 percent. The snap poll conducted by the Institute of Comparative Social Studies published the first results after the last polls closed at 1800 GMT.
Although final results are not expected until Monday, observers are banking on a pro-government majority in the Duma as the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic party (LDPR) and Motherland, a newly-formed leftist-nationalist party, show early counts of about 12 and 9 percent respectively. Both parties are close to the Kremlin and together with United Russia could hand Putin a voting bloc of 58 percent in the parliament.
Liberal opposition passes hurdle
Despite the overwhelming attention given to United Russia in the country’s media, two small liberal parties managed to make it to the Duma. The pro-democracy parties, Yabloko and the Union of Right Forces (SPS) overcame the crucial five-percent hurdle to gain a share of the proportionally allocated seats in the 450-member parliament. Exit polls gave both parties about 6 percent.
The final makeup of the Duma, the lower house of parliament, could differ significantly from the early results, since only 225 seats are elected through nationwide proportional representation. The other half of parliament is elected in individual constituencies through direct mandates.
Two-thirds majority still uncertain
The main question circling ahead of the final results is whether or not United Russia and its pro-Kremlin allies will receive a two-thirds majority, or more than 300 seats. If that happens, it would allow Putin to push through changes to the constitution including enabling him to remain in power beyond his likely second term in 2008.
Observers say this is Putin’s goal and he has made no secret out of his preference for United Russia. On the contrary, he has lent the party his face for campaign slogans saying "Together with the President." With Putin’s approval rating soaring at over 80 percent, the party is sure to come out a winner.