MOSCOW, December 17 (RIA Novosti) - Igor Zotov, the deputy governor of the Tula Region in Central Russia, was elected leader of the Russian Pensioners' Party at the congress Saturday.
The congress delegates elected 24 members of the party's Central Council who unanimously voted for Zotov's candidacy.
Zotov, who headed the Tula regional branch of the Pensioners' Party, said the party should obtain seats in the parliament's lower chamber after the 2007 election and form a State Duma faction.
He said the Pensioners' Party also had to win elections to the legislatures of 18 Russian regions in 2006 and to become more democratic.
"This will require great efforts," he said.
Zotov expressed hope the party would have more influence on Russia's social policy after the State Duma election in 2007.
