Post by radovic on Nov 15, 2007 10:36:50 GMT -5
Russian party challenges Putin vote bid in court
15 November 2007 | 10:52 | Source: Reuters
MOSCOW -- A Russian opposition party said it had asked a court to disqualify Vladimir Putin from December's elections.
They have taken today's step on the grounds that his job as president gives him an unfair advantage.
Putin is leading the election slate of the United Russia party in the December 2 vote. His critics say the Kremlin will use its influence to manipulate the vote in the party's favor. Officials deny the allegation.
Nikita Belykh, leader of the Union of Right-Wing Forces, a small liberal opposition party, said it was filing the suit against Putin.
"Yesterday our party filed a suit with the Supreme Court asking it to exclude Vladimir Putin from United Russia's list of candidates for the parliamentary election," Belykh told a news conference.
He said the grounds for the suit were Putin's "repeated violations of the law." He alleged the Kremlin was using its administrative clout to boost United Russia and make life difficult for the opposition.
The presidential administration could not immediately be reached for comment.
Opinion polls suggest United Russia will win at about 60 percent of the vote in the election, while its nearest rivals have ratings in single figures.
Putin is exploiting a legal loophole that allows elected officials to run for parliament and then turn down their seat after the election.
The Russian leader says he will step down at the end of his second term next year, in line with a clause in the constitution that limits presidents to two consecutive terms.
He said this week a big showing for United Russia in the election would give him a "moral right" to influence government after he steps down.
15 November 2007 | 10:52 | Source: Reuters
MOSCOW -- A Russian opposition party said it had asked a court to disqualify Vladimir Putin from December's elections.
They have taken today's step on the grounds that his job as president gives him an unfair advantage.
Putin is leading the election slate of the United Russia party in the December 2 vote. His critics say the Kremlin will use its influence to manipulate the vote in the party's favor. Officials deny the allegation.
Nikita Belykh, leader of the Union of Right-Wing Forces, a small liberal opposition party, said it was filing the suit against Putin.
"Yesterday our party filed a suit with the Supreme Court asking it to exclude Vladimir Putin from United Russia's list of candidates for the parliamentary election," Belykh told a news conference.
He said the grounds for the suit were Putin's "repeated violations of the law." He alleged the Kremlin was using its administrative clout to boost United Russia and make life difficult for the opposition.
The presidential administration could not immediately be reached for comment.
Opinion polls suggest United Russia will win at about 60 percent of the vote in the election, while its nearest rivals have ratings in single figures.
Putin is exploiting a legal loophole that allows elected officials to run for parliament and then turn down their seat after the election.
The Russian leader says he will step down at the end of his second term next year, in line with a clause in the constitution that limits presidents to two consecutive terms.
He said this week a big showing for United Russia in the election would give him a "moral right" to influence government after he steps down.