No surprises

Tomorrow the State Duma will consider in the first reading a draft law prohibiting deputies elected on party lists from moving from one party to another. In 2007, for the first time, all 450 deputies will be elected only from party lists. The already all-consuming dominance of one “party in power” will become even more impressive: no single-mandate seats, no free deputies, no new coalitions or formations. Just as we elected one party, and a couple more small ones for the sake of decency, so we will unanimously make all decisions in chorus.