Political Results of 2008
Members of United Russia are meeting the New Year with concern and hope. They are primarily pinning their hopes on their leader Vladimir Putin.
They have been trying to entice him to join United Russia throughout its history. In 2007, Putin described his special relationship with the party, though he officially aligned himself with United Russia only upon expiration of his presidential powers. The Prime Minister's leadership proved to be the water of life for the party, which has enabled it to keep its ratings at 60%.
The party's relations with the leader have not always been smooth. During the past year, Putin criticised it more than once, sometimes in public but more often talking with the party activists either in a Volga sanatorium or at his own residence. The response was always tumultuous and the result of yet another campaign was invariably lost in this turmoil. This is why it seemed that there was no end to the reforms. One campaign was replaced with another so gradually that one got the impression of incessant useful activity.
Last summer, for example, Putin ordered United Russia to eliminate casual members and opportunists that were using the party for personal gain. However, for the most part, the party dismissed ghost members that were registered in it en masse, sometimes without even being told, on the eve of the next election campaign.
After that Putin instructed United Russia to establish closer relations with average citizens. This directive evoked a lively response. The party tried to turn itself into a forum for dialogue between society and government. It opened Putin's public reception offices in the regions. In early December, Putin conducted a live national reception for the public at Gostiny Dvor. The programme was entitled "Conversation with Vladimir Putin". The United Russia leader answered the questions of his compatriots who were concerned about the deteriorating financial and economic crisis, and who had already been hit by its consequences.
Putin's latest directive this year is the most difficult so far. He asked the party to temper the public's discontent with dismissals, falling living standards, delays in salary payments and increasing prices and utility rates. United Russia immediately said "yes" and set up anti-crisis headquarters in the regions. However, upset citizens ignored the headquarters. United Russia's political ballyhoo gave way to live politics, loud protests and spontaneous rallies of car dealers and steel workers. By and large, there remained only one intrigue in Putin's relationship with the party - the Prime Minister is not yet a member.
