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Politicians Believe One Russia's Days Are Numbered; Pundit Disagrees
RIA Novosti - 4.29.12 - JRL 2012-79

Deputy speaker of the State Duma Igor Lebedev (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia) believes that "the days of One Russia (United Russia) are numbered, with Medvedev or without him", Russian RIA Novosti reported on 26 April. Leader of the Yabloko party Sergey Mitrokhin also believes that the popularity of One Russia will decline.

File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone
file photo
Earlier Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin had announced that he was leaving the post of chairman of the ruling One Russia and suggested that current President Dmitriy Medvedev, who is expected to become new prime minister, should take his place. Medvedev said on 26 April that he was ready to join One Russia and become its leader.

"The days of One Russia are numbered. I do not think that it will survive until the next election. Unless more amendments are introduced to the electoral law in order to support the ruling party, it will fail in the next parliamentary elections," Lebedev told RIA Novosti on 26 April.

He believes that a new party might be created, for example, on the basis of the All-Russia People's Front. Lebedev said that "any politician who has contacts with One Russia risks his political career".

The MP said that although Putin had been nominated by One Russia, he built his election campaign on the basis of the All-Russia People's Front.

The leader of the Yabloko party believes that One Russia has become a burden for Putin.

"For Putin, One Russia is a burden, it is a suitcase without a handle which is difficult to carry but one feels reluctant to throw it away," Mitrokhin told RIA Novosti.

According to the politician, One Russia's popularity will continue to fall regardless of whether Medvedev will be the party's chairman or not. "But now it will concern Putin less," the politician said.

On the other hand, political analysts and head of the Effective Policy Foundation Gleb Pavlovskiy believes that as chairman of One Russia Dmitriy Medvedev will strengthen both the party's positions and his own, and will also contribute to the development political competition in Russia.

Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday in an interview with Russian television channels said he was ready to lead "United Russia".

"As head of One Russia, Medvedev will greatly strengthen his position. Together with the post of prime minister he will have a much stronger position. He is turning into a political head of the government," Pavlovskiy told Interfax.

"One Russia today is a weakened institution. The party suffered several blows, starting with the creation of the All-Russia People's Front, and it has been pushed to the margins of the political process. Medvedev might become an important moderator of new competitive politics," the analyst said.

"A new field of competitive politics will be set up, where new parties will appear and argue between themselves. They will attack One Russia, it will counterattack. Probably One Russia will learn to operate in the public field and it will have more young members. Its next test is coming soon during autumn local elections," Pavlovskiy said.

Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russian News - Russia

 

Deputy speaker of the State Duma Igor Lebedev (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia) believes that "the days of One Russia (United Russia) are numbered, with Medvedev or without him", Russian RIA Novosti reported on 26 April. Leader of the Yabloko party Sergey Mitrokhin also believes that the popularity of One Russia will decline.

File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone
file photo
Earlier Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin had announced that he was leaving the post of chairman of the ruling One Russia and suggested that current President Dmitriy Medvedev, who is expected to become new prime minister, should take his place. Medvedev said on 26 April that he was ready to join One Russia and become its leader.

"The days of One Russia are numbered. I do not think that it will survive until the next election. Unless more amendments are introduced to the electoral law in order to support the ruling party, it will fail in the next parliamentary elections," Lebedev told RIA Novosti on 26 April.

He believes that a new party might be created, for example, on the basis of the All-Russia People's Front. Lebedev said that "any politician who has contacts with One Russia risks his political career".

The MP said that although Putin had been nominated by One Russia, he built his election campaign on the basis of the All-Russia People's Front.

The leader of the Yabloko party believes that One Russia has become a burden for Putin.

"For Putin, One Russia is a burden, it is a suitcase without a handle which is difficult to carry but one feels reluctant to throw it away," Mitrokhin told RIA Novosti.

According to the politician, One Russia's popularity will continue to fall regardless of whether Medvedev will be the party's chairman or not. "But now it will concern Putin less," the politician said.

On the other hand, political analysts and head of the Effective Policy Foundation Gleb Pavlovskiy believes that as chairman of One Russia Dmitriy Medvedev will strengthen both the party's positions and his own, and will also contribute to the development political competition in Russia.

Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday in an interview with Russian television channels said he was ready to lead "United Russia".

"As head of One Russia, Medvedev will greatly strengthen his position. Together with the post of prime minister he will have a much stronger position. He is turning into a political head of the government," Pavlovskiy told Interfax.

"One Russia today is a weakened institution. The party suffered several blows, starting with the creation of the All-Russia People's Front, and it has been pushed to the margins of the political process. Medvedev might become an important moderator of new competitive politics," the analyst said.

"A new field of competitive politics will be set up, where new parties will appear and argue between themselves. They will attack One Russia, it will counterattack. Probably One Russia will learn to operate in the public field and it will have more young members. Its next test is coming soon during autumn local elections," Pavlovskiy said.


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