Russian legislative "elections", 2007

[Meeker]

The Communists are doing their "own" count. What a fun democracy.

[Meeker]

Hackers have taken down United Russia's website.

Now Joe Lieberman and Vladimir Putin have something else in common!

[Meeker]

Seat totals under current results:

United Russia: 308
Communists: 58
Liberal Democrats: 43
Fair Russia: 41

I heard earlier that Fair Russia wanted to make an opposition coalition with the Communists, but I thought Fair Russia was pro-Putin?

[Meeker]

In a shocking turn of events, the OSCE has declared that the results are "not fair".

[Meeker]

I had heard he was planning on greatly increasing the power of the PM before he left office next year. And isn't he backing some random schmuck for President who'd basically make the perfect puppet? I think we've figured out his little plan.


One other interesting "result": In addition to 99% of people in Chechnya voting, 99% voted for United Russia. Isn't that a little odd considering Putin's whole "Let's bomb the Chechens!" campaigns?

[Meeker]

I had heard he was planning on greatly increasing the power of the PM before he left office next year. And isn't he backing some random schmuck for President who'd basically make the perfect puppet? I think we've figured out his little plan.

1. So far Putin hasn't officially backed someone for the presidency. Yesterday, I read somewhere that "United Russia" is planning to endorse a presidential candidate on December 17. In the last weeks and months, most bets were on current PM Zubkov, who was a totally unknown and obscure figure until he was appointed prime minister by Putin a few months ago. With 66 years, Zubkov is also considered to be relatively old (which actually makes it more likely for him to be Putin's stooge/successor... weird country).

Yea, that's the guy I was thinking of.