Putin anticipates many candidates from non-parliamentary parties to run in 2016 election
SOCHI. Sept 17 (Interfax) - The elections of 2016 should be competitive and legitimate, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, adding that a large number of representatives of parties that are not currently represented in the country's parliament will run in them.
"Non-parliamentary parties are making their voice heard in an increasingly noticeable way. They actively participated in the elections at very different levels during the previous campaign. I will also note that many strong candidates, our rivals at the current elections, will probably become candidates for State Duma deputies next year, including in single-seat districts," said Putin, who on Thursday met with the governors who won the latest regional elections.
The president said that "it's a good thing that such outstanding figures who enjoy public authority are appearing."
"I said that not only parliamentary, but also non-parliamentary parties actively participated. This means that the number of political parties that will run in the State Duma elections will be twice as high than it was last time," Putin said.
Putin recalled that ten non-parliamentary and four parliamentary parties will have the right to run in the elections.
"In previous elections, there were only seven parties, and now we will have 14," the president said. He believes that such serious competition should draw to the parliament those political forces that will prove their ability to "resolve the most vital problems that concern people" not only through words, but also through deeds.
"The current standards governing truly public, competitive and legitimate election procedures should undoubtedly be met in the 2016 State Duma elections," Putin said.
