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#13 - JRL 2007-42 - JRL Home
Changes To Election Laws Reduce Authorities' Legitimacy - Mironov

MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - The latest changes in to Russian election laws may affect the legitimacy of the authorities, Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov said on Monday.

"No matter what they say, the legitimacy of the authorities is reducing, and many people fear this," he said.

Mironov said he disagreed with the invalidation of the "against all" option in voting papers and the minimum turnout. "These are systemic errors," he said.

Turnout exceeded 50% in only six of the 44 regions that held elections last year, and was under 40% in over half of these regions, he said.

"Many State Duma members ignore public opinion when they amend election laws," he said.

He also criticized the invalidation of party registration in an election campaign. The law gives a large number of insignificant reasons for which a party may be barred from participating in elections, he said.