Brian Binley MP for Northampton South and Member of the Council of Europe has this week returned to the UK following his visit to Russia to oversee the Country’s Parliamentary elections and has criticised the lack of a level playing field during the elections.
Brian said: “Although the elections were technically well administered across a vast territory, a number of political parties were banned from running and it was clear that the contest was slanted in favour of the ruling party. The election lacked independence, most media were partial and state authorities interfered at different levels.”
“It is however clear following the results of the election and some of the events that have followed, that despite this lack of a level playing field, Russian electors took advantage of their right to express choice.”
The result of the election has been seen as a blow for former President and current Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin and his party United Russia, whose popularity has dipped to 48% down from 60% loosing 77 seats in the Duma.
The election build up was viewed by many as a referendum on Vladimir Putin and his popularity within the Country as he bids to become President for the third time in March’s Presidential elections.
During the trip Brian went to Moscow for three days where he was briefed by the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) a number of NGO’s and where he met with representatives of all seven political parties taking place in the elections.
Brian was then deployed to the historic city of St. Petersburg for two days where he observed the build up to the election and the election itself.
0 comments:
Post a Comment