Russia: Duma Elections -- Pro-Western Parties Get Run Out Of Parliament, But Is Their Influence Lost?
Jeremy Bransten
Voters in yesterday's elections to Russia's State Duma routed right-wing parties from power. Neither the Union of Rightist Forces, led by privatization mastermind Anatolii Chubais, nor the Yabloko party, led by economist Grigorii Yavlinksii, appears to have broken through the minimum 5 percent barrier. This means they are both set to be excluded from the new parliament, aside from a handful of single-mandate constituencies they may capture. The new Duma will thus have no significant pro-Western bloc. Why have Russia's voters turned against liberalism in favor of left-wing, nationalist ideology and what are likely to be the consequences?
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/12/08122003170245.asp
_________________________________________________________________ Cell phone ‘switch’ rules are taking effect — find out more here. http://special.msn.com/msnbc/consumeradvocate.armx