In his address to Congress delegates of the new party formed by merging the Unity Party, the Fatherland Party, and the All Russia Party, Vladimir Putin said that Russian society needed healthy political competition, not a fruitless struggle weakening the state system and undermining the authorities’ prestige and the very essence of democracy. Russian citizens justly believe that this sort of confrontation does not serve their interests, he said.
Noting that the party’s supreme council included many well-known people, among them those from government agencies, Vladimir Putin warned them against proclaiming the new party a “party of power.” Russia needs parties that can really win the respect and support of the people and will defend citizens’ rights and interests, the President said. Such a party can really become a party of the majority, he stressed.