| Question: What is the attitude of the YABLOKO
party to the attendance of the RF President President
of party events and his consequence involvement in the elections?
Mitrokhin: We understand that the administrative resource
in the present political system plays a key role and we treat this as
a natural disaster, as nothing can be done. We have our own electorate
and our own strategy. The campaigning of top ranking officials for other
parties does not affect us and we are not going to react.
Question: During the past weekend United Russia announced
their electoral list of candidates, which demonstrates that the top figures
from this list will not play an active role in the work of the State Duma
and will not turn to Duma deputies. What do you think about this trend?
Mitrokhin: This is the same use of the administrative
resource. United Russia is an administrative party, a party that was created
to resolve the tasks of the executive authority, therefore it is inevitable,
and we react calmly to developments. At least these figures are bright
politicians. Unite Russia does not have people who could be compared with
these governors and who will really work in the Duma. Thus the party demonstrates
that a grey mass will work in the Duma and it will obediently implement
any orders from the Kremlin.
Question: In your opinion, will such a method yield the
desired political dividends for United Russia?
Mitrokhin: It certainly will, as the voter will not
speculate about whether this person will work in the Duma or not. He will
be led by well-known names.
See also:
State Duma elections
2003
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