Russian election: Putin party well ahead on more than 40% - exit polls

United Russia, backed by President Vladimir Putin, is well ahead in the nation"s parliamentary election, taking more than 40%, exit polls suggest.

However its vote, if confirmed, would be down on the 49% won in 2011.

The nationalist LDPR and the Communist party are way behind, with 14-16% each.

Liberal opposition parties appear to have failed to pass the 5% threshold needed for party-list representation, the polls say, though they could still get seats in individual constituencies.

A VTsIOM exit poll gave United Russia, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, 44.5%, with the Public Opinion Foundation putting its total higher, at 48.7%.

The two polls differed on whether the LDPR or Communists were second, but both were well behind.

A Just Russia was fourth on about 8%.

These four parties had dominated the last Duma.

Allegations of fraud after the last election had sparked large-scale protests against Mr Putin in Moscow and the authorities were anxious to oversee trouble-free polls this time.

Mr Putin has enjoyed 17 years in power as either president or prime minister, and does not belong to any designated party.

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Russian election: Putin party well ahead on more than 40% - exit polls
http://latiendadejm.com/blog/russian-election-putin-party-well-ahead-on-more-than-40-exit-polls/

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