Putin’s party suffers setback in Russian elections

Russian premier Vladimir Putin suffered a setback when his United Russia party lost its vice-like grip on the Duma, barely managing to win 50 per cent of the 450 seats, as against a 64-per cent share in the outgoing parliament.

The main beneficiary of the declining popularity of Putin's party was the Communist party, KPRF, which got 19.12 per cent of the vote, as results began trickling in on Monday. The reds had been sidelined to the margins following the dismantling of the Soviet Union more than two decades ago. In the 2007 polls, they had won less than 12 per cent of the votes.

A Just Russia came third with more than 13 per cent votes (up from 7.7 per cent in 2007), while the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia scored less than 12 per cent (eight per cent in 2007).

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president – and seen as Putin's man – congratulated Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov and A Just Russia chief Sergei Mironov for their success. He also expressed readiness to work with them in the Duma for the next five years.

The results were being seen as a setback to Putin, who has ruled over Russia for the past 12 years. Opponents have accused his government of being corrupt and of even rigging the elections.

Heidi Tagliavini, the head of the European mission in Moscow, told reporters that the election was like a game in which only some players were allowed to compete.

But despite the setback, Putin is expected to continue ruling Russia with his 50-plus per cent majority. Vladimir Churov, the chief of the Central Election Commission, said United Russia could end up with 238 of the 450 seats in the Duma. ''We can ensure stable development of the country with the results,'' said a disheartened Putin.

But Boris Nemtsov, an opposition leader, predicted that Putin's rule would ''collapse like a house of cards.'' Presidential elections are due in March and Putin will be contesting it on the United Russia ticket. A former president, he switched over to the premiership, as the presidential tenure is for only two terms.