| CHITA, October 25 (Itar-Tass) - The centrist United Russia
will have firm majority in the regional legislature after preliminary results
of Sunday’s polls revealed that the pro-Kremlin party collected more
than 36 percent of the votes in party-list precincts and, moreover, its
representatives win in 12 first-past-the-post districts out of 21.
Communists came second with 18 percent of votes, while 15 percent were
cast “against all,” the regional electoral commission said.
Agrarians and the Liberal Democratic Party of Vladimir Zhirinovsky received
between 11 and 12 percent.
The liberal Yabloko Party failed to surpass the five-percent hurdle.
The elections have been proclaimed valid since the turnout exceeded
30 percent, while no less than 25 percent were necessary for that purpose.
The Chita region elected the legislature in single-mandate districts
and by party lists for the first time ever. More than 90 candidates competed
for 21 mandates in single-mandate districts, and five parties –
the United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party,
Yabloko and the Agrarian Party – competed for another 21 mandates.
The winners in single-mandate districts need a simple majority of votes.
The regional electoral commission said there were no flagrant violations
of law in the ballot.
See also:
Regional
Elections 2004
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