#16 - RW 272
Russian Elections Chair Says 2003 Duma Elections To Differ From Predecessors

MOSCOW, September 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Central Election Commission chairman Alexander Veshnyakov said the Duma election campaign that officially begun on Wednesday will differ from the previous ones. He told a press conference, "The fight will be very severe." In his words, the winning parties will not only have a representation in the parliament but will also receive state financing in proportion to the number of votes cast for it as well as the right to nominate candidates in different elections without collecting signatures in their support or making an election deposit. President Vladimir Putin has not ruled out the possibility of forming a government by the parliamentary majority. Parliamentary elections will to a certain extent determine the outcome of presidential elections.

Veshnyakov stressed that Russian voters should understand that by electing a certain party they will determine the country's social and economic policy for the next few years. He did not rule out provocations during the elections, but the main task is to prevent scandals and to ensure strict compliance with the law. Central Election Commission officials will be present at the majority of pre-election party congresses. The law does not require election organisers to do this but most parties, which are to hold their congresses this weekend, have already sent invitations to Central Election Commission officials. Central Election Commission officials will try to help parties not to make mistakes and to "avoid scandals caused, among other things, by the bad knowledge of laws."

In accordance with the law on political parties, lists pf party candidates in federal constituencies should be drawn up in a public and democratic manner. Congress delegates will have to discuss each candidate and vote on each candidate. "This is a mechanism of certain protection from corruption within parties," Veshnyakov said, adding that such a phenomenon exists. Speaking of free coverage of elections in mass media, he said there are no obstacles for that. "No considerable changes have occurred in the law on elections that would affect mass media," he said. Veshnyakov noted that mass media are allowed to inform the population about the election campaign, provided it does so in objectively and truthfully, without giving advantages to certain candidates. He also urged the press to remember that "there will be many candidates and not all of them are favoured by authorities."

Among the election law novelties pertaining to mass media, Veshnyakov named a provision requiring mass media to provide time on television and radio or printing space to candidates only if they have been paid for. The new legislation also allows courts to suspend the operation of mass media if they violate the election law several times.

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