| The Committee of 2008 on Tuesday laid out its strategy
for picking which of its prominent members would lead the liberal camp
into the next parliamentary elections in 2007.
"Effectively, it's a primary," said former SPS leader Boris
Nemtsov, referring to the preliminary elections in the United States used
to determine a party's candidate.
Rather than leaving the question up to the politicians themselves, whose
personal divisions have stalled past attempts at cooperation, voters will
be polled to find out who they want to see as the face of the Coalition
of Democratic Forces, into which the nonpartisan discussion club intends
to transform itself.
Nemtsov said they hope to solicit the views of all 20 million people
"who want to live in a truly free country," and the undertaking
will cost at least $2 million, most of that buying television coverage.
Nemtsov is one of five people seen as candidates for the "primary."
Others are Garry Kasparov, who is head of the Committee of 2008, independent
State Duma Deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, recent presidential candidate Irina
Khakamada and Yabloko leader Grigory
Yavlinsky.
Order of popularity in the poll will determine the order of the party
list.
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