Translated material
Like Putin
United Russia may nominate its own presidential candidate
Yesterday, a regular meeting of the Central Election Commission of Russia took place, at which the procedure for preparing and holding elections to the State Duma in the Kamchatka Territory was determined. This federal subject was formed on July 1, 2007 by merging the Kamchatka Region and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug , so there were two election commissions on the territory of the Kamchatka Territory.The CEC decided that they will operate until the formation of the election commission of the new subject is completed, and this should happen no later than July 1 of next year. That is, parliamentary and presidential elections in the Kamchatka Territory will be conducted by two more commissions. In addition, the Central Election Commission decided that the election commissions of the Kamchatka region and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug should establish a single numbering of polling stations in the Kamchatka Territory. Also, by September 20, a joint working group should be formed for the purpose of “interaction and coordination in the implementation of electoral actions in the Kamchatka Territory.”
Also, at yesterday’s meeting, the Central Election Commission established a list of media outlets that are obliged to provide free airtime and print space for the election campaign of political parties. The list includes, in particular, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise VGTRK, which includes Russian Television, Radio Russia, All-Russian State Television Channel Culture, Radio Mayak. Among the television media, the list also includes the Voice of Russia radio company, Channel One, and the TV Center-Moscow television company. From printed publications - “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, “Parliamentary Gazette”, “Border of Russia”, “Book Review”, “Red Star”, “Red Warrior”, “Moskvichka”, “Transport of Russia”, “Shield and Sword”.
The United Russia party has completed compiling its electoral list. As Oleg Morozov, a member of the bureau of the party's Supreme Council and first vice-speaker of the State Duma, told reporters yesterday, there are 600 names on the list that will be considered at the party congress on October 1-2. The congress will also determine the order of candidates. The vice speaker refused to disclose details. But he shared information that, perhaps, at the congress the party will determine its position on the candidate for president of the country.
“Our congress is divided into two stages. First, on October 1-2, we must approve our election program and a list of six hundred candidates... But we are going to hold the second stage of the congress and invite the same delegates to discuss pressing topics. There, perhaps, we will discuss the topic of the party’s presidential candidate,” said Mr. Morozov.
Oleg Morozov also shared with journalists his opinion on the prospects for the development of a two-party system in Russia. Currently, the first vice speaker of the State Duma does not see the prerequisites and conditions for its formation in the country. According to Mr. Morozov, there is nothing wrong with a two-party system. “But we have, in my opinion, about 15% of citizens who will never vote for United Russia, since they traditionally vote for the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. And there are 10-15% of citizens who should vote for the right, for the liberals. In addition, there is that part of voters who traditionally vote shockingly against the authorities,” the politician said.