(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – United Russia (YR) keeps gaining momentum in the Russian Federation, according to a poll by Yury Levada Analytical Center. 54 per cent of respondents would vote for the pro-Kremlin party in the next legislative election, up two points since June.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – United Russia (YR) keeps gaining momentum in the Russian Federation, according to a poll by Yury Levada Analytical Center. 54 per cent of respondents would vote for the pro-Kremlin party in the next legislative election, up two points since June.
The Communist Party (KPRF) is a distant second with 19 per cent, followed by A Just Russia with nine per cent, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with eight per cent, Yabloko (Liberal) with five per cent, and the Union of Right Forces (SPS) with three per cent.
Vladimir Putin was elected to a second term as president in March 2004 with 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. In April 2005, Putin ruled out seeking a new mandate, saying, “I will not change the constitution and in line with the constitution, you cannot run for president three times in a row.” The next presidential election is tentatively scheduled for March 2008.
The next election to the State Duma is scheduled for Dec. 2. For the first time, all 450 lawmakers will be chosen through party-list proportional representation, with a seven per cent threshold. In the 2003 election, only four political parties—United Russia, the KPRF, the LDPR and the Motherland – National Patriotic Union (MDRT)—received more than seven per cent of the vote.
This month, Russian media reported that the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi (Our Own) has organized summer camps for the third consecutive year for about 10,000 young Russians. The camps include “learning sessions” where camp councillors refer to some opposition leaders, including former chess champion Garry Kasparov, as “fascists”.
Nashi—which is financed by the Russian government—was founded following the surge of street demonstrations against Putin led by groups such as Kasparov’s Other Russia. Nashi leader Vasily Yakemenko said the camps seek to show young people “how the policies of Putin have worked,” and added: “In ten years, we will have a huge network of people who share our ideology and who know that is Russia’s proper place in the world.”
Polling Data
Imagine that parliamentary elections will be held again this Sunday. Which of the following parties would you vote for?
(Decided Voters)
Jul. 2007 | Jun. 2007 | May 2007 | |
United Russia (YR) | 54% | 52% | 57% |
Communist Party (KPRF) | 19% | 17% | 18% |
A Just Russia | 9% | 7% | 8% |
Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) | 8% | 9% | 11% |
Yabloko (Liberal) | 5% | 4% | 1% |
Union of Right Forces (SPS) | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews to 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Jul. 13 to Jul. 16, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
