(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Russia’s opposition parties remain practically inexistent in the public’s eye three months before the country holds a legislative ballot, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 45 per cent of respondents would back the pro-Kremlin United Russia (YR) in the election to the State Duma, down two points since mid-August.

The Communist Party (KPRF) is a distant second with eight per cent, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with six per cent, and A Just Russia with five 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.

On Sept. 12, Putin dismissed Russian prime minister Mikhail Fradkov—who had served since March 2004—and appointed Viktor Zubkov, a former financial police chief and close ally, to supplant him.

On Sept. 14, KPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov expressed disappointment with Putin’s decision during the State Duma session where Zubkov was confirmed as prime minister, saying, "(Zubkov) agreed to implement old policies. That road will not take Russia into the 21st century." The lower house ultimately ratified Zubkov’s nomination in a 381-47 vote.

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