Putin and United Russia suffer heavy losses in elections

Russian Premier Vladimir Putin’s ruling party United Russia has bean dealt a heavy blow in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday.

5 December 2011, 12:00am

1 min read

Support for Russian Premier Vladimir Putin is down to 50% in parliamentary elections held on Sunday

Putin's party, which enjoyed a two-third majority, seems set to obtain a relative majority. However, with 95 per cent of votes counted, electoral support appears to be down to 50% from a 64% majority obtained during the previous elections.

This result confirms fears that Putin's popularity is on the wane and marks Putin's first electoral setback since his emergence in 1999.

Putin who is favourite to win next year's Presidential elections has been in power since 1999 first as President then as Prime Minister.

His rule has been characterized by his hard man image, political acumen and flamboyancy and jeered after a martial arts bout last month.

Although he still is the most popular Russian politician, his popularity has diminished and recently Putin even suffered the humiliation of being booed in a public appearance.

Many voters seem to be fed up with widespread corruption and opposition parties fear that Putin's return to the presidency may bring further political, social and economic unrest.