RUSSIA: Liberal-Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky casts ballot in parliamentary elections

Record ID: 327641

  • Title: RUSSIA: Liberal-Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky casts ballot in parliamentary elections
  • Date: 5th December 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 4, 2011) (REUTERS) POLLING STATION EXTERIOR POLLING STATION NUMBER OVER ENTRANCE RUSSIAN LIBERAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY ENTERING POLLING STATION POLLING STATION WORKER WATCHING ZHIRINOVSKY REGISTERS TO VOTE POLLING STATION WORKERS WATCHING ZHIRINOVSKY EXAMINING BALLOT, STANDING UP, GOING TO VOTING BOOTH POLLING STATION WORKER CHECKING VOTER'S PASSPORT AS OTHER VOTERS WATCHING ZHIRINOVSKY APPROACHING BALLOT BOX, CASTING BALLOT SAYING IN RUSSIAN 'FOR YOUR FREEDOM AND OUR FREEDOM', THEN LEAVING VOTERS RECEIVING BALLOTS ELECTION WORKER'S HANDS HOLDING PASSPORT, FILLING IN DATA IN VOTER LIST VOTER CASTING BALLOT
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ZJB34O89C7QWMYX93I4WST2L
  • Story Text: LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky cast his vote in parliamentary elections on Sunday (December 4).
    If United Russia, which has dominated the State Duma lower house since 2003, does not retain its two-thirds majority, the biggest gainers could be the Communist Party, which is likely to remain the second biggest force. Vladimir Zhirinovsky's nationalist LDPR also hopes to gain votes from United Russia.
    Russia's ruling United Russia party, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin could see its vast parliamentary majority cut back in an election that will indicate the scope of fatigue with Putin's 12-year rule just three months before he asks voters to endorse his return to the Kremlin as president.
    Polls show Putin's party is likely to win a majority but less than the 315 seats it currently has in the 450-seat lower house of parliament, known as the Duma. If it gets less than two-thirds of seats, Putin's party would be stripped of its so called constitutional majority which allows it to change the constitution and even approve the impeachment of the president.
    Opposition parties say the election is unfair because the authorities support United Russia with cash and television air time while they say vote rigging will be employed to boost United Russia's result.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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