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Russian election could pave way for Putin to keep power
Associated Press
Published December 2, 2007
MOSCOW - Russia began voting today in a parliamentary election where the only question is whether President Vladimir Putin's party will win merely a strong majority of seats or a gargantuan, crushing share. The election follows months of increasingly acidic rhetoric aimed against the West and efforts, by law and by truncheon, to stifle opponents. A huge win for Putin's United Russia party could pave the way for him to stay at the country's helm once his presidential term expires in the spring. The party casts the election as essentially a referendum on Putin's nearly eight years in office. Putin is constitutionally prohibited from running for a third consecutive term as president in March. But he wants to keep his hand on Russia's levers of power, and has raised the prospect of becoming prime minister. Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion who has become one of the most prominent opposition leaders, called the election a "farce" Friday, a day after being released from jail following his arrest in weekend protests.
[Last modified December 2, 2007, 01:43:46]
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