Russians vote for parliament without much opposition
Russia has begun today a three-day voting exercise in parliamentary elections that is not expected to change anything in the nation's political landscape. There is no hope that the United Russia party, which backs President Vladimir Putin, will lose control of the national parliament known as the Duma.
The main questions, however, are whether the party will retain its current two-thirds majority which allows it to change the constitution; whether the low voter turnout will tarnish the party's image; and if the clever Voting Strategy of incarcerated opposition leader Alexei Navalny proves to be correct against the party.
President Putin has urged Russians to vote, saying in a video message last Thursday that the election of a new Duma parliamentary structure is the most important event in the life of their community and nation. Voters are expected to cast their ballots by Sunday.
