The creation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin-backed nationwide People’s Front is not an electoral move of the ruling United Russia party, but a part of a long-term program, United Russia leader and lower house speaker Boris Gryzlov said on Saturday.
On May 6, Putin called at the United Russia party conference for the creation of the All-Russia People’s Front to broaden the party’s electoral base with “non-party people,” including trade unions, NGOs, business associations and youth groups.
Some analysts see Putin’s move as a bid to boost his United Russia party’s flagging popularity and head off a potentially damaging poor showing in upcoming parliamentary elections.
“United Russia is a self-sufficient party with two million members and about one million supporters, who potentially can become members in six-month time,” Gryzlov said in an interview with Rossiya TV channel.
He stressed that People’s Front is open for the non-governmental organizations, willing to participate in the creation of Russia’s development program.
About 100 NGOs are ready to join the People’s Front coordination council, Gryzlov said.
Gryzlov said that the front could become a platform for nominating a candidate in the 2012 presidential election if it did well in the December parliamentary election.
VLADIVOSTOK, May 14 (RIA Novosti)