| MOSCOW, September 15 (Itar-Tass) - The formation of political
alliances for the December Duma elections, which took almost two weeks
since the beginning of the current electoral campaign, is now over.
Two electoral alliances, expected to be quite competitive during the
elections, were formed practically simultaneously. They include the bloc
of the Russia Revival Party and the Russian Life Party, headed by the
speakers of both houses of the Russian parliament, and the Fatherland
bloc, rallying representatives from the so-called people's patriotic forces.
Ex-communist Gennady Seleznyov and centrist Sergei Mironov head the
ticket of the former. At the top of the other bloc's ticket are member
of the parliamentary faction of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation,
theoretician-economist of leftist orientation Sergei Glazyev and conservative
patriot Dmitry Rogozin. Obviously, leaning towards the centre, both blocs
are able to attract a considerable part of the votes of the left-wing
electorate.
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation was among the first to
publish last week its list of candidates to the upcoming Duma elections.
Communist Leader Gennady Zyuganov claims there is a coalition going to
the elections under the communist flag. Indeed, formally a part of the
Communist Party list consists of allies of the orthodox communists.
The Union of Right-Wing Forces and Yabloko, which are balancing on the
brink of the five per cent barrier, have failed to agree on electoral
cooperation, though they are potential allies, and have already registered
separate lists of their candidates at the Central Electoral Commission.
The Liberal Democratic Part of Russia and Gennady Raikov's People's
Party have not joined any blocs or alliances. The latter has quite good
chances in the single-mandate constituencies.
More than a half of the forty-four parties, permitted to take part in
the parliamentary elections, have already held their congresses after
the beginning of the electoral campaign and have decided the choice of
their allies. The upcoming series of congresses will hardly spring any
sensations.
Only United Russia, which is believed to have real winning chances,
has not held its electoral congress yet. It is scheduled for Saturday,
September 20. This largest Russian centrist party is holding the congress
independently, although it is, in fact, an obvious coalition, too. Several
dozens of public organizations had signed cooperation agreements with
United Russia long before the beginning of the electoral campaign. The
party also has a so-called "institute of supporters", meaning
that not all its candidates will have party cards.
This indicates that the grouping of the main political forces is now
over after the formation of the two foregoing left-centrist blocs.
See also:
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Elections to the
State Duma, 2003
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