Putin: The vote was a vote for democracy

The main conclusion to be drawn from the election just past is that another step has been taken toward strengthening democracy in the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of this today at his traditional meeting with key ministers in the Kremlin. He laid particular stress on the correctness of commentators who have seen things this way. The president also said, 'We'll talk about the results later.' He also noted: 'The results reflect the genuine feelings of the population. They reflect what the people of Russia are thinking, the realities of our political life.'

Putin also spoke directly to those parties that see themselves as victors in the election and warned them against 'unnecessary euphoria' because they now bear an enormous responsibility. To the parties that consider themselves to have lost, the head of state called on them to learn from the election results but assured them 'that all of their ideas and all of their potential as people that are made available to the leadership of the country, to the government, to society, all that is positive vis-а-vis the tasks confronting Russia, will be needed.' But everyone must learn from the results of what they have done politically, he insisted.