The Media Mirror: what's in today's Russian newspapers?

On the day after the Parliamentary election, Russian media discusses the electional aftermath: Vladimir Putin’s future, forthcoming changes in the government and the new status of United Russia party congress.

IZVESTIA daily has a frontpage picture showing members of a pro-Putin youth organization celebrating in the streets. The inscription on the backs of their cloaks reads: we won’t let any one have anything of ours. So, writes the paper, the main question of the election has been solved: Vladimir Putin now belongs in the United Russia party – as an MP and a leader. But the election figures show a wider support for Putin than for United Russia. It means he is the national leader for more than 90% of Russians – including the Communists, the Liberal Democrats, the Fair Russians and all others as well.

KOMMERSANT daily adds a bit of spice to that: Vladimir Putin suggests that in the future it may be better not to set parliamentary and presidential elections so close to one another. We suggest they be merged, says the paper. In celebration of the fact that from December 2 Russia is united.

VREMYA NOVOSTEI daily says the only new factor in Russian politics after the election is United Russia’s constitutional majority. This can become a breeding ground for all kinds of rumor about Vladimir Putin’s third term. The paper also says opposition parties that never made it to the Duma will suffer a great financial loss as they will be faced with the bills for television time. Under Russian electoral law, parties whose candidates failed to get elected lose the government financial support and had to pay campaign bills.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA daily says that changes in the Russian Cabinet can be expected in January, after the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays. The paper adds that there have been enough state corporations created in the past months to honorably accommodate discharged ministers and deputy Prime ministers.

VEDOMOSTI daily writes that December 17 is going to become another election day. At its congress United Russia, the party that now controls the Constitutional majority in the Duma, will be selecting Presidential candidates. By the names announced on that day, says the paper, it will be possible not only to give a three-month long political forecast (of who will become the next president), but to guess if Vladimir Putin is planning to come back, and when.