When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

blog

Putin's party hangs on, faces vote fraud charges

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party saw its majority in Russia's parliament weaken sharply, according to preliminary election results released Monday, a humiliating setback for the man who has steadily tightened his grip on the nation

(AP) Moscow -- Some opposition politicians and election monitors said even a result of around 50 percent for Putin's United Russia party was inflated because of vote fraud. Their claims were backed by European election observers, who pointed to procedural violations and serious indications of ballot stuffing after a campaign slanted in favor of United Russia.

"To me, this election was like a game in which only some players are allowed to compete," Heidi Tagliavini, the head of the European mission, said at a news conference.

United Russia is still expected to retain its majority in the lower house and Putin is all but certain to win next March's presidential election, but Sunday's vote badly dented his carefully groomed image. It reflected a strong public frustration with the lack of political competition, ubiquitous official corruption and the gap between rich and poor.

READ MORE

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

U.S. Drone Incident Video, Credit Suisse Lifeline, Lunar Fashion

NASA has unveiled the first prototype for a newly designed next-generation spacesuit specially tailored and accessorized for the first astronauts expected to go back to the moon’s surface in the following years.

Ginevra Falciani, Renate Mattar Emma Albright Anne-Sophie Goninet

👋 Sannu!*

Welcome to Thursday, where the U.S. releases a video of the drone incident with a Russian fighter jet, Credit Suisse borrows big, and we get a first look at NASA’s new Moon spacesuits. Meanwhile, Rubén M. Perina in Buenos Aires-based daily Clarin lays out why Latin America should be wary of China’s economic might in Argentina.

[*Hausa - Nigeria]

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest