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Russia's Putin Proposes Broad Political Front

   VOA News  May 06, 2011
   Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the United Russia party
   congress in Volgograd, about 900 kilometers [550 miles] southeast of
   Moscow, Russia, May 6, 2011

Photo: AP

   Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the United Russia party
   congress in Volgograd, about 900 kilometers [550 miles] southeast of
   Moscow, Russia, May 6, 2011

   Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has proposed creating a broad
   political front around his United Russia party in preparation for
   December's parliamentary election.
   Speaking at a party rally on Friday, Putin said his proposed new front
   would include other political parties, trade unions and civil
   organizations.
   United Russia has been losing favor with the Russian people.
   The December election is seen as a rehearsal for Russia's next
   presidential vote, set for June 2012.
   Putin and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are seen as the two major
   candidates in the presidential election, but neither politician has
   announced a decision to run.

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