Sunday’s state Duma elections kept the ruling party status as the largest faction, but many voters, dissatisfied with the authorities, stayed home, writes the Financial Times article “United Russia” Putin retains control after the election.” This result is a modest success for Vladimir Putin, who must show that he can maintain political control despite economic recession and the lack of positive news, the newspaper notes.
At 10:30 a.m. Monday at the end of counting 93% of the ballots leader of the “United Russia” 54,28% of the vote. The Communist party gained of 13.45%, LDPR — of 13.24%, and “Fair Russia” — 6,17%. According to preliminary data, the turnout was 47,81%.
Many observers and representatives of political parties said that the election was slightly cleaner than five years ago, but independent observers and the CEC during the day received hundreds of complaints of violations, writes the FT. The most common of them were “carousel” and stuffing, edition refers to the movement “Voice.” Other violations were related to absentee voting and not allowing observers into polling stations, says the newspaper.
The authorities tried to portray the vote transparent, despite the changes in the election procedure, which, according to observers, helped to keep the current procedure, writes The Wall Street Journal in the article “Putin’s Party supports the government in a weak turnout.”
Although the newsletters have new names, such as “Green” and “the Russian party of pensioners for justice”, a serious opposition Kremly was not heard, the newspaper notes, citing observers. The WSJ emphasizes that the Russian media, most of which is owned by the state, almost did not give words to those who spoke against the Kremlin.
Elections to the state Duma. Preliminary results
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Many voters said that although not fully support the ruling party, but used the elections to Express trust in Putin, and criticized the opposition for failing to deliver on their promises, sums up the publication.
The Times in the article “reports of fraud, Putin’s party remains in power” writes about the numerous reports of violations during the voting. Activist “Parnassus” Karine Kashaeva on duty at one of the sites in the center of Moscow, told the publication that she was alarmed by a large number of people who voted by absentee ballot. According to her, 14:30 GMT 600 180 voters used absentee ballots. The Chairman of the precinct electoral Commission Oleg Surnachev stated that allegations of possible fraud are “nonsense and lies”, reported The Times.
The New York Times drew attention to the extremely low activity izbirateley in major cities in the “Pro-Putin party shows strength in the Russian parliamentary elections.” The ruling party was expecting the worst results, taking into account the gloomy public sentiment caused by falling oil prices and Western sanctions over Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, the newspaper said.
The NYT emphasizes that in Moscow the turnout, according to preliminary data, was below 30% compared to over 50% in 2011. The publication notes that the Kremlin tried to present these elections as fair and transparent, wanted to remove the stain from his reputation, with the remainder of the 2011 elections and demonstrate that strong public support for Putin can be converted into votes for the ruling party. Senior political advisers of the Russian President wanted elections reflect its rankings, the magazine writes, citing the opinion of political analyst Abbas Gallyamov who explains that “they want Putin looked very popular, not stole the victory in the elections”.
In the system of “managed democracy” invented by the Kremlin, it is impossible to imagine that the control of President Putin, the Parliament has weakened, writes bi-Bi-si in review “Russian elections: party supported by Putin, far ahead.” In the end, four Pro-Kremlin party, which dominated the previous Parliament retained their positions, but whether the state Duma of the new convocation be regarded by society as legitimate, asks the British broadcasting company. It also draws attention to the fact that a number of observers called the campaign boring lately, despite the economic problems and tensions with the West over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
Few expected any surprises from Sunday’s elections, which are seen as important preparation for 2018, when Putin will likely be re-elected to the presidency, writes The Telegraph in the article “Putin’s Party aims for victory in parliamentary elections, despite low turnout.”
After accusations of fraud and protests that followed elections five years ago, the Kremlin bothered by the fact that the vote was clean, writes Der Spiegel. However, this time was not without accusations of manipulation, the newspaper said, adding that besides the opposition ahead of the elections there were also all sorts of obstacles.
For journalists of Frankfurter Allgemeine, the main result of the election was that the state Duma has not passed, no opposition party. Do Russian voters have lost faith with the power of your voice, surprised edition, noting that talking about it a extremely low turnout and bad results of the opposition parties.
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President Vladimir Putin got what he wanted in the parliamentary elections, conceived as a more free and pure than the previous one, writes Bloomberg in the article “Putin approved, as the ruling party extends control of Parliament”. It is the result, according to the Agency, underlines the Putin has a solid electoral base in comparison with victories in the parliamentary elections of 2011 and presidential in 2012, which was marred by protests and accusations of fraud.
The head of the Center for political technologies Igor Bunin, told Bloomberg that no one doubted the victory of “United Russia” because “in a society in a state of depression, and which has developed a siege mentality, people support Putin.”
Parliamentary elections strengthen the power of the Russian President, despite the ongoing economic crisis, says Die Welt. The publication notes that despite the recorded violations are unlikely in this time rely on the massive demonstration, which is perhaps Putin’s most important achievement.
The bad economic situation led people to the streets and forced them to vote for the opposition, and it gives the authorities good prospects for the presidential election which will take place in two years, concludes Die Welt.
