Credentials Commission

Politicians and political scientists on the results of parliamentary elections

Vremya Novostei correspondent Ksenia VERETENNIKOVA asked politicians and political scientists to evaluate the results and consequences of the Duma elections.

"Administrative resources can adjust the result by a fraction of a percent"

Andrey ISAEV, Deputy Secretary of the Presidium of the General Council of United Russia:

— It is very important that on the Russian political scene there is a party that has received more than 64% of the votes. This has never happened before. For the first time, a majority of Russians voted for a certain program, for a certain leader. This is a very important victory for us. Although we are not inclined to delude ourselves. This, most likely, was an advance for us associated with voting for our national leader, for his program - for Putin’s plan, for continuing the course that he has led the country over the past eight years. Many organizations, for example, independent trade unions, called on us to vote for Putin. We are ready to build a dialogue with the government. Including the increase in income to the Pension Fund, since if the minimum wage is raised, then revenues to the fund will also increase. This will allow us to fulfill the president’s task of increasing pensions by at least 65% within three years, and in reality - doubling. The trade unions support us in this. It is extremely disrespectful to the citizens of the country to believe that administrative resources can bring more than 64% of the votes. This is wrong. Administrative resources can adjust the result by a fraction of a percent. And today one thing is obvious - the absolute majority of citizens of our country support Putin’s course.

"In the Duma we will be the only real opposition"

Ivan MELNIKOV, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation:

- Our real result of these elections is at least around 20%. So in terms of support, we're seeing a clear increase. And the 11 percent “and a penny” that the Central Election Commission gives us is not an indicator, it is a pre-prepared figure. Most of all, I now want our supporters to hear and know about this - all those who supported the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and are surprised today by what they see on the TV screen. I declare: you see a lie. They deceived and robbed not only the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, but also you. Today we are considering all possibilities to recognize the elections as illegitimate, and we will consider the possibility of surrendering mandates if this leads to re-elections. If this turns out to be impossible, we will work, look for new ways to develop, to fight, to win. One thing is clear: in the State Duma we will be the only real opposition. And we will know that at least a quarter of the country’s population is behind us. And we will not respond to Sergei Mironov’s statements about any unification with A Just Russia. This party, according to our data, did not enter the State Duma, does not have the support of the population, has no ideology, has not and will not actually oppose the policies pursued in the country.

"Presidential elections are a chance to reach an agreement"

Nikita BELYKH, leader of the Union of Right Forces:

- We will make every effort to ensure that the democratic opposition unites around a single presidential candidate. The Union of Right Forces must support a single candidate from the democratic opposition, if there is one. For the unification of the opposition to take place, it is necessary that all participants in the elections want it. We proposed to unite, but we did not see support for this idea from other parties. Presidential elections are a chance to reach agreement and nominate a single candidate for the post of president of the country. The Political Council of the Union of Right Forces recommended that the upcoming party congress nominate Boris Nemtsov as a candidate for the presidency of Russia. At the same time, we are ready to negotiate with other opposition parties in order to nominate a single candidate.

"Our main task is to dismantle the regime"

Garry KASPAROV, co-chairman of the political coalition “The Other Russia”:

- We have never hidden that our main task is to dismantle the regime. And we are ready to create the broadest coalition that would help achieve this goal. In the coming days, we plan to hold a series of consultations with potential allies. I appealed to the parties, especially the communists, to really talk about the abuses that took place in the December 2 elections. I think no one has any illusions that these elections have become the most dishonest and dirty in all modern Russian history.

“A purge in United Russia is simply asking for itself”

Valery KHOMYAKOV, General Director of the National Strategy Council:

- The Duma will differ from the previous one in its personal deputy composition. I hope that the fact that Putin is the de facto leader of United Russia will still add political influence to the Duma. The popularity of the Duma as one of the institutions of power in the eyes of voters was very low. The role of United Russia will be strengthened to the point that it may well impeach the president if for some reason he does not suit the party. It is clear that a purge in United Russia is simply asking for itself. I know this not only from the words of the president, but I myself see which leaders represent this party, for example, here in Sokolniki. Voters there are shocked by United Russia. As for Putin’s influence on the Duma, frankly speaking, I don’t like the conversations that my colleagues are having about national leadership, the father of the nation. I think that the National Strategy Council should make every effort to secure its rights to influence domestic policy in the country. It seems to me that this is fundamentally important, because we can run into double illegitimacy. On the one hand, the elections were very questionable from the point of view of honesty and purity. And all this post-election dirt will certainly affect the elections of the future president. Accordingly, we get a very unsightly picture: a not very legitimate future president and a not very legitimate national leader, Vladimir Putin, because he led a party that did not receive its mandates very honestly. We will think about what needs to be done legislatively to avoid this dangerous situation. Vladimir Putin will lead United Russia and influence domestic politics in the country, but we believe that this influence should be limited by the legislative framework.

"The nomination of a successor from the party is a fairly likely scenario"

Dmitry BADOVSKY, Deputy Director of the Institute of Social Systems:

— I think that the difference between the new Duma and the previous one will be related not so much to the structure and personnel, but to what scenario Vladimir Putin will choose for maintaining his influence. Will there be talk about increasing the role of parliament within the political system due to the fact that Putin headed the party, will he rely on the parliamentary majority, will the interdependence of the government and parliament increase. It seems to me that the institutionalization of Putin's influence must happen. Leadership in the party with a corresponding increase in the role of parliament, the nomination of a successor from the party, the formation of a government of a parliamentary majority - this, in my opinion, is a fairly likely scenario.