Russia's Ruling Party Dominates Regional Vote

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Russia's Ruling Party Dominates Regional Vote

14.03.2011 12:08

By RFE/RL

Preliminary official results suggest that Russia's ruling party, United Russia, has scored a widely predicted victory in regional elections.

The figures showed that United Russia was winning in all of the 12 regions where local legislative elections were held on March 13.

With nearly all of the ballots counted, the party won between 35 and 70 percent of the vote.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the results of the United Russia party he leads were "more than satisfactory." He said the results showed voters' "confidence in authorities."

Rivals and independent observers said the polls were marred by violations.

Russian Central Election Commission head Vladimir Churov cited a "high turnout and a high level of competitiveness."

"In general, they were held in a calm atmosphere, although they were preceded by an acute political struggle, mostly within the law," Churov said.

Russian State Duma speaker and chairman of the Supreme Council of United Russia, Boris Gryzlov, called the results "an assessment of the party's activities."

"It is support for the authorities, support for the president, and for the leader of our party, [Vladimir] Putin," Gryzlov said in Moscow, according to RFE/RL's Russian Service. "We were led to think there would be low turnout, that our voters are already apolitical. But the result is obvious."

The regional election is widely seen as a test run for December's parliamentary and next year's presidential elections.

with additional local and international agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/united_russia_party_winning_regional_vote/2337562.html

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Russia's Ruling Party Dominates Regional Vote