Izvestia: “United Russia trusted by more people”
Specific projects are United Russia's main election technology, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, leader of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, told partisan activists at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow.
The number of voters who supported United Russia at the March 13 regional elections has increased considerably on the 2007 elections, said Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the Party's Political Council, as the meeting got underway. He said the number of its supporters exceeded 2007 levels by 700,000 people in absolute terms. United Russia received an extra 30,000 votes and 70,000 votes in Kaliningrad and the Komi Republic, respectively.
The Prime Minister noted that the party was backed , on the average, by over 49% of the electorate, rather than 46.2%, at the latest elections. This highlights the trust of voters and the fact that United Russia boasts its own electorate.
On Sunday, March 13, 12 Russian regions, namely, the Republics of Adygea and Dagestan, the Komi Republic, the Kaliningrad, Kirov, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Tambov and Tver Regions, as well as the Chukotka and Khanty-Mansi – Yugra Autonomous Areas, elected their own regional legislatures.
Judging by election results, United Russia continues to lead the way everywhere. Its candidates have received about 72% of votes in the Chukotka Autonomous Area. This is more than anywhere else. At the same time, 65% of voters in the Tambov Region have supported United Russia candidates.
"We believe such elections have launched the State Duma election campaign," Gryzlov noted.
The elections highlighted various problems, due to be tackled by the party. "Some regional elites were not always involved in the team effort and failed to obtain maximum results. We should seriously assess the situation and discuss this issue at the Party's Supreme Council," Gryzlov said. Vladimir Putin noted shortly before that the party received 1% less votes in some regions, but that this had probably been caused by uncoordinated actions and confusion inside United Russia ranks.
A participant in the meeting drew attention to the opposition's actions. Putin stressed that "leading forces are called upon to solve problems, and that the opposition is supposed to criticise the government and to offer alternative solutions."
"On the whole, this is normal, we should not be angry with anyone, we should not use bad language, and we should simply work effectively," the Prime Minister advised fellow party members.
State Duma elections are scheduled to be held in December 2011, and specific projects are the main election technology. Please keep this in mind, the Prime Minister stressed.
Yelena Suvorova
