Russia needs liberal parties

The Russians elect a new parliament on Sunday. Several surveys show that Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party may lose its majority to the Communist Party. This is bad news for the West, writes the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza, commenting that "from our point of view it would be good if the government party lost its power to the independent and democratic Yabloko Party led by Grigory Yavlinsky and Sergey Mitrokhin. The latter is highly respected throughout the world but the official propaganda at home treats it disparagingly. Yabloko, however, has no chance of clearing the seven percent hurdle. Another acceptable option would be the Right Cause party that although dependent on the Kremlin is at least liberal. ... If Yabloko or perhaps even liberal leaders are voted into parliament a pro-West wing would emerge to spur on the modernisation of the country."

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