The journalists of Channel 1, Russia and NTV were interested in the forthcoming elections to the State Duma on December 7 and the start of the presidential election campaign.
Vladimir Putin did not say whether he would seek a second term as President during the March 2004 elections suggesting instead to concentrate on the topic of the December vote in which the country’s citizens are to elect a new lower house of parliament.
The President stressed that in the last four years the emergence of a stable majority at the State Duma has enabled the members of parliament to avoid futile political debates, factionalism and squabbling between clans and make serious progress in the field of law making and pass some vital laws.
Much of the credit for the improved law making activities belongs, in the President’s opinion, to the centrist parties, notably United Russia. Mr Putin stressed that although he is not a member of the party, United Russia has in recent years been the main political force on which he has leaned and which has supported him. As a token of appreciation for many years of joint work the President attended the 3rd Congress of the party in September and met with the leaders of United Russia.
But the President believes it is his duty to be engaged with all the political groups and associations and, according to Vladimir Putin, the dialogue with them is developing successfully.
The President expressed hope that the next Duma would remain similarly efficient and would continue the creative effort, jointly with the executive branch, to form a rule of law state.
When asked about the political composition of the new parliament Vladimir Putin said it would depend on the turnout in the December elections. Vladimir Putin appealed to all the Russian citizens, especially young people, to recognize the importance of every individual expressing his or her will, displaying a civic attitude and to come to the polls on election day.