Russia's former finance minister Alexei Kudrin says he is expecting an emergence of a new political structure in the country in the next ten years and the strengthening of leftist parties, which could hurt Russian economy.
The lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, approved on Tuesday in the first reading a bill simplifying procedures for registering political parties and reducing the number of signatures required by non-parliamentary parties and independent candidates to participate in elections from 40,000 to 500.
“I believe that it will take at least 10 years for the new structure and main parties to be formed,” Kudrin said in his blog on Twitter on Thursday.
He said at least 15 parties will compete for the parliament seats in the next Duma elections in five years, which will be followed by their consolidation for another five years.
Kudrin also said leftist parties may strengthen their positions before the next general election because democratic reforms in the country are inevitable.
“Leftists may strengthen their positions in the next parliamentary election, which could lead to the worsening of the situation in the [Russian] economy,” the ex-minister said, adding that the “power” in the country has already started leaning to the “left.”
Kudrin, who resigned as the country’s finance minister and deputy prime minister last year following a row with President Dmitry Medvedev over budget issues, has said he was planning to establish a new right-leaning party.
Kudrin has also supported the protest movement that swept across Russia following December 4 parliamentary elections, triggered by allegations of widespread vote fraud in support of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party.
