Russia Names Parties Eligible For Duma Elections

A campaign poster of A Just Russia, one of the pro-Kremlin parties, in Samara (ITAR-TASS) September 5, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Russia's Federal Registration Service has published a list of political parties eligible to compete in December parliamentary elections.

Fifteen parties meet the requirements outlined in the Russian federal legislation on political parties.

According to recent independent polls, four parties are likely to dominate the vote: the pro-Putin Unified Russia and A Just Russia; the Communist Party of the Russian Federation; and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia.

Read RFE/RL's analysis of the campaign for the State Duma elections.

In order to compete in the December 2 elections, the parties have to complete a final round of registration with the Central Election Commission.

Deputies are elected to the State Duma under a proportional system. To qualify for parliamentary representation, parties must receive at least 7 percent of the vote.

In 2006, the minimum required percentage was raised from 5 percent, and the minimum voter turnout was also abolished. The changes are widely regarded as favoring pro-Kremlin parties.

(RFE/RL's Russian Service)

Russia Beyond 2008

President Putin is mulling his political future (epa)

THE 2008 QUESTION: President Vladimir Putin's second term of office ends in the spring of 2008. Since the Russian Constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term, this event threatens to present a crisis in a country that has a history of managed power transitions. Already, Russian politics are dominated by the ominous 2008 question.
RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a briefing to discuss the prospects of Putin seeking a third term. The featured speakers were RFE/RL Communications Director Don Jensen and political scientist Peter Reddaway of George Washington University.