The Moscow branch of United Russia starts receiving applications for participation in the primaries, which will determine the candidates for deputies of the state Duma. The party already has preliminary ideas about who could run in single-mandate constituencies (Moscow will be divided into 15 counties), and about who may enter the regional electoral list, said two people close to the leadership of the Moscow branch. According to them, if the party favorites successfully pass a preliminary vote, the deputies-United Russia party members from Moscow in the state Duma will change markedly.
Deputies from Moscow traditionally occupy high posts in the state Duma. Of 15 Muscovites in the lower house two Deputy speaker (Andrey Isaev and Sergei Zheleznyak) and two Chairman of the Committee (and Vyacheslav Nikonov Nikolay Gonchar). Also among them the Chairman of the Commission for the construction of the parliamentary centre Vladimir resin.
From fourth estate
Among the newcomers will be dominated by public men, says the United Russia and confirmed by a source close to the Kremlin. All parties, particularly United Russia, in Moscow of problems with positioning, so in the capital it is better to nominate non-party people, says the source familiar with the preparation of the primaries in the city. Instead of politicians in the list must be representatives of different social environments, adds a source close to the Metropolitan office.
To participate in the primaries and be nominated to the state Duma plans TV presenter “the First channel” Peter Tolstoy, told a source close to the Metropolitan office, and confirmed the interlocutor close to the Kremlin. He confirmed that, “more likely to participate in primaries”, but noted that no formal steps had been taken. “I always say that the political class must learn clearly and precisely to convey their thoughts for the voters. I want to try myself to implement this idea in practice,” he said .
Tolstoy — the great-grandson of the writer Leo Tolstoy. For seven years he was engaged in the final program “Sunday time”, and in the Duma elections of 2011 and presidential elections in 2012 led the pre-election debates. In recent years hosting the talk show “Time will tell” and “Politics”. In February of this year, Tolstoy was elected to the Supreme Council of “United Russia”. Then in the party also spoke of the desire to include in the governing bodies of public men.
In the primaries, according to interlocutors , will take part for another known in the field of media journalist — chief editor of the newspaper “Culture” Elena Yampolskaya. While it is expected that she will go to election in single mandate constituency, but it is possible and its inclusion in the party list.
Yampolskaya itself has not confirmed nor denied the information about the plans to participate in the primaries. According to her, she will take a decision about it in March.
Yampolskaya is known for good relations with the film Director Nikita Mikhalkov, as well as loyalty to Joseph Stalin. In 2013, she wrote an article about the former leader of the USSR under the name “Hard to be God”. “This man was sent to Russia remained on the world map. This cannot be forgotten,” she wrote. Issued Yampolskaya and an autobiography, “the Anthem of this bitch, or I’ll be the one” is built like the diary of the author.
At the February party Congress Yampolskaya also went to the high Council of the party.
Earlier the state Duma has already come-known journalists, and even occupied high positions. The Committee on foreign Affairs is now in charge of TVC presenter Alexey Pushkov and first Deputy chair of the security Committee Alexander Khinshtein, famous for his journalistic investigations in “Moskovsky Komsomolets”.
Movement in the state Duma
Many current deputies of the state Duma from Moscow are planning to participate in the primaries and, therefore, again run for the lower house of Parliament. Among them Vice-speaker Sergei Zheleznyak, the Deputy and the head of the Moscow branch of the party Nikolai Gonchar, the Chairman of the Duma Committee on education Vyacheslav Nikonov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on nationalities Irina Belykh, a member of the security Committee Anatoly Vyborny, list the sides close to the party leadership. With great probability in the election will participate oldest representative of Moscow in the lower house, former Vice-mayor Vladimir resin.
White declined to comment, receive a comment of her other colleagues failed.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on economic policy Victor Zvagelsky said it also plans to participate in the elections.
Elected from Moscow Deputy speaker and Deputy Secretary of General Council of “United Russia” Andrei Isayev, most likely, will not run from the capital and from St. Petersburg, says the interlocutor in the party. Earlier Isayev became the coordinator of the interregional coordination Council of “United Russia” in St. Petersburg.
Himself Isaev said that while consultation and can not precisely tell, from what region will run.
Question about Sobyanin
The question of how will look like the pre-election list of the party in Moscow and who will lead, is still under debate. At the end of last year it seemed that there was reached a final decision that the list will be headed by the mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin, says the source close to the leadership of the Moscow branch. “But now there is an understanding that the issue has not been finally resolved. May be found by other people”, — said the source.
Sergei Sobyanin headed the list “an United Russia” on state Duma elections in 2011. According to official data, then for the party in Moscow voted about 46%.
A source close to the Kremlin, claims that doubts about Sobyanin at the head of the list associated with the reluctance to strengthen his influence on the election results. Another source, close to the city hall claims that the mayor is afraid to lead the party to elections in the conditions of crisis and, therefore, show a low result.
But still an 80% chance the list will be headed by the mayor, says a source close to the leadership of the Federal “United Russia”. In this case, the list of the party in the capital would be United, he says. “Sobyanin is a real “locomotive” for the party. In addition, he will be able to answer all the questions of the opponents during the election debate,” says a source . According to him, only about ten heads of regions will be able to lead in the Duma elections, the party lists. Earlier in the party spoke about his desire to distance himself from the gubernatorial election.
In that case, if Sobyanin will lead United Russia in the elections, the party list is divided into several parts. “In this case, the lists will lead the influential deputies, such as Nikolai Gonchar and [Vice-speaker] Aleksandr Zhukov,” says a source close to the leadership of “United Russia”.
Press Secretary mayor Gulnara Penkova has not answered the questions .
In scenarios in which the mayor leads the party list in the elections, there are several threats to the city authorities, says political analyst Aleksandr Pozhalov. A high level of trust to the mayor are not necessarily transported on the rating of the party. “For example, this happened in 2011, when the mayor has led the party in the Duma, and the result came out significantly below expectations,” he recalls. A campaign of opposition against United Russia can lower the rating of the municipal authorities, the expert adds. “And we must remember that the city Council distanced itself from the party in recent years, favourable changes in the city associated with the mayor, not the party. Even the mayor was an independent candidate for the mayoral elections. It would be difficult to repair the ligament for a short time”, — concludes the expert.
