The ruling United Russia party will hold a congress on September 3-4 to approve a list of candidates for the December 2011 parliamentary elections, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"I suggest September 3-4 [for the congress]," said Putin, who is the leader of both United Russia and the new All-Russia People's Front.
Putin said the congress should be held at the beginning of September to give Russia's regions enough time to discuss ideas and suggestions made at the congress before the elections.
The United Russia party currently holds 315 seats in the 450-seat State Duma, or lower house of parliament. The party is widely expected to win December's elections, despite poll results showing that support for the party is flagging.
Analysts see Putin's creation of the All Russia's People's Front earlier this year as an attempt to head off a potentially damaging poor showing for the United Russia party at the elections.
