News from Moscow: (Ah, but what does it all mean?)
MOSCOW (CNN) -- A new party endorsed by Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin pulled within a fraction of the long-dominant Communists as
votes were counted Monday in elections for seats in Russia's parliament.
The strong showing by the centrist Unity party
was seen as an endorsement for Putin in what
the Kremlin called "a peaceful revolution" and
diluted the Communists' strength in the Duma,
the lower house of parliament.
The Unity party was formed only 11 weeks
ago by allies of Putin and President Boris
Yeltsin. It saw a surge of support that gave
centrist groups in Russia their strongest election
showing in the post-Soviet era, boosted Putin's
future hopes of becoming president and
strengthened his hand in the war against Islamic
militants in Chechnya.
With more than 80 percent of ballots counted
Monday, the Communists had a slight edge
with 24.4 percent of the vote, compared with Unity's 23.7 percent. The
Communist Party has held the largest portion of seats in the Duma for a
decade.
The Kremlin hailed the surprise showing by Unity and the Union of
Right-Wing Forces, which also broadly supports the Kremlin and Putin.
"In Russia a revolution has taken place, a peaceful one, but a revolution all
the same," said Igor Shabdurasulov, first deputy head of Yeltsin's Kremlin
administration.
"This is a colossal breakthrough," he told reporters.
Centrist groups accounted for four of the six leading parties in Sunday's
voting and were likely to claim more than half the seats the Duma. As a
result, Yeltsin could have a cooperative parliament for the first time, and
economic reforms are likely to face less resistance.
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