VLADIMIR PUTIN: "AUTHORITY IS FIRST OF ALL SERVICE TO PEOPLE"

September 20, at the Column hall of the House of Unions III Congress of the political party "United Russia" took place. The delegates of the congress have generated lists of candidates to the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and discussed the party program on development of Russia for the nearest four years. In the Presidium of the Congress elected were Chairman of the supreme council of the party Boris Gryzlov, co-chairmen of the supreme council the RT President Mintimer Shaimiev, Moscow Mayor Jury Luzhkov, the RF Emergency Minister Sergey Shojgu.

The RF President V. Putin said that he would not participate in inter-party discussions. However, he made an exception for the "United Russia". First, because four years ago he voted for this party. Second, as a mark of gratitude for joint fruitful work for the last years. “You have managed to create in the State Duma a centrist fraction which took a state position on the major directions of society development”, President Putin said. The party has proved that it had been created not for short-term results, but for long-term ones. According to V. Putin, "the political party may not live only in today’s context, it should go a few steps ahead, set a reference point to the society, determine tasks".

Upon termination of the congress, Boris Gryzlov, Mintimer Shaimiev, Sergey Shojgu and Jury Luzhkov gave press conference for the central and regional mass media. B.Gryzlov informed that under the federal list of candidates to the State Duma of the fourth convocation from political party "Unted Russia" nominated were four leaders of the "UR" – the chairman and the co-chairmen of the supreme council. Other candidates will be nominated on one-mandatory constituencies. In regional lists 28 chiefs of subjects of the Federation were offered. Questioned whether someone of them is going to leave the post, the RT President M.Shaimiev answered that he is not going to do it for the voters rendered him trust much earlier. “I offered to choose three nominees”, President of Tatarstan admitted, “but congress has made the decision that we should go in one harness”.

“I would like very much that at these elections a radical turn should take place in political life of the country - real multiparty membership must appear”, M.Shaimiev expressed his wish.