Russia will hold elections for the State Duma, the country's lower house of parliament and key legislative body, on Sunday. The poll is seen as the most important domestic event in 2003 and a referendum on the four-year tenure of President Vladimir Putin, who is widely expected to seek his second term in next March's presidential elections.

More than 94,000 polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Eighteen political parties and five electoral blocs have entered the contest for a total of 450 seats in the Duma, which passes all Russia's laws and approves prime ministers picked by the president.

Under Russia's electoral law, half of the seats will be proportionally shared among parties winning more than 5 percent ofthe national vote, while the rest will be elected in 225 individual constituencies across the country.

The parliamentary poll is to be held with a stable political situation and continuous economic growth. After implementing a series of effective measures to strengthen the federal mechanism and prompt market economy reforms, Putin has achieved notable progress in enhancing the central power, balancing relations between legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies, and revitalizing the economy.

Analysts say the forthcoming poll is a test of both Putin's strategies on ruling the state and the strength of various political forces, particularly the centrist party of United Russiathat always supports and is openly backed by Putin.

The rivalry for the chamber seats is destined to be fierce given the possibility of forming a government based on a parliamentary majority.

With the aim of doubling Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) in the next decade, eliminating poverty and achieving the modernization of the army, Putin earlier called for the formation of a "majority of politicians ready to bear responsibilities for the country's future" in the Duma.

According to results of recent surveys by polling centers of public opinion, only five of the 23 political parties and blocs registered to run in the campaign may pass the 5 percent barrier to win seats in the Duma.

United Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation(KPRF), the two most powerful rivals in the race, both strive for the No. 1 position in the legislative body.

United Russia, the pro-Kremlin party that holds 142 seats in the outgoing Duma, was formed three months before the 1999 election under the name of Unity. It won 23.32 percent of the votes in the campaign and ranked second after the KPRF. In February 2002, it merged with Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov's Fatherland-All Russia bloc, bringing the percentage in the Duma to36.65. It calls itself the "party of power" and says its main ideology is to support the policies of President Putin.

Putin said in a televised address in late November that he had been depending on United Russia for four years, and the party had also supported him consistently for four years. The president's full support has laid a solid basis for the party's opportunity towin in the imminent poll. Local media has estimated that United Russia may get around 25 percent of the popular vote.

The KPRF, with some 550,000 members, is the biggest party in Russia. It won 113 seats overall at the 1999 election but now holds 110 seats after it was hit by a damaging split. Calling for a "people's regime" and advocating a strong role for the state in managing a gradual transition to market economy, the leading opposition force enjoys strong support from impoverished people and those with lower social status.

The KPRF's strength and influence was seriously diminished by the split and attacks from centrist and right forces. Its leader, Gennady Zyuganov, predicted that the party would get 28 percent ofthe votes, but analysts here considered this an over-estimation.

Latest opinion polls have indicated that United Russia and the KPRF may take the leading positions in the party list, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), constructive oppositionUnion of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) and liberal opposition Yabloko are possibilities in overcoming the 5-percent threshold to secure seats in the Duma.

The Rodina (Motherland) bloc, formed in September and made up of 29 leftist organizations, was seen by many as a probably "dark horse" in the race to enter the new chamber.

The KPRF, Yabloko and the SPS have recently signed an agreement,which was unexpected for many people, to jointly monitor the voting process to prevent frauds.

Russian Central Electoral Commission has vowed to hold a fair parliamentary poll. Some 1,000 foreign observers will supervise the vote.

Close

Today's Top News		Top International News
+Commentary: `One China' will be defended at all costs ( 2003-12-05) +US lift of steel tariffs welcome ( 2003-12-05) +Olympic logo's rights stir debate ( 2003-12-05) +Report ranks domestic brands ( 2003-12-05) +China's IT output will lead the world ( 2003-12-06)		+Russia's parliamentary vote imminent ( 2003-12-06) +Putin decries 'terrorist attack' ( 2003-12-06) +Powell hears shadow plan for peace in Middle East ( 2003-12-06) +Al Qaeda tape likely used to rally, recruit ( 2003-12-06) +Microsoft launches internet portal in Indonesia ( 2003-12-06)