The speaker of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, on Thursday ruled out holding early elections before the scheduled December 2011 vote.
"Today we have every reason to say the political system suits us, and early elections due to political expediency are certainly ruled out," Boris Gryzlov told reporters.
Gryzlov also said there would be no change to the 7% election threshold, which he believes encourages political forces to stage more serious campaigns.
"I don't think we should change the threshold at the 2011 elections. But at the next but one elections, I admit the possibility of decreasing the threshold," he said.
Only four parties passed the 7% threshold at the 2007 election to the 450-seat State Duma: the ruling United Russia party (315 seats, or 70%), the Communists (57), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (40) and A Just Russia (38 seats).
Gryzlov also said 2011 elections to Russian regional parliaments could be postponed from October to December and held simultaneously with the State Duma elections.
MOSCOW, July 15 (RIA Novosti)
