POLITICIANS ON INCREASING PARTIES' STRENGTH

MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) -Representatives of three Duma factions (United Russia, Rodina, and the LDPR) submitted to the State Duma a bill on increasing the minimal strength of political parties from 10,000 to 50,000, on October 13. The document authors believe that their idea will strengthen political parties. The Communists, who have not signed the document, are sure that it is aimed at liquidation of a multi-party system. Actually, writes Kommersant, both are right: "the strengthening" of some parties will logically lead to elimination of most others.

Deputy chairman of the Communist Party's Central Committee Ivan Melnikov said that increasing the strength was "advantageous for the KPRF, just as is the promised transfer to the fully proportional election system." However, Mr. Melnikov believes, "one can't think about momentary gains," as the current reforms "destroy the state and eliminate democratic institutions."

Meanwhile, democrats who are not represented in the Duma suspect that the amendments are aimed against them. SPS ex-co-chairwoman Irina Khakamada is sure "most parties won't be able to take part in the elections," especially with account for a possible ban on creation of election blocs. At the same time, this norm, in Ms. Khakamada's opinion, is "a perfect impetus to unite democratic forces."

Yabloko, said party deputy chairman Sergei Ivanenko, has 75,000 members, but "intends to orient the regional departments to increasing the party strength to 100,000," to secure itself in case Justice Ministry checks scrap part of documents on party strength.

SPS political council secretary Boris Nadezhdin said that earlier, the Kremlin believed that a 10,000 minimum would be sufficient to reduce the number of parties to 20-30. Now there are over 40 parties in the country. In Mr. Nadezhdin's opinion, the current calculations won't be justified either: for SPS, in his words, even 100,000 members is not a problem.