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United Russia may hold 2nd part of Congress before elections.

The Congress is expected to nominate Vladimir Putin the Party's presidential candidate

MOSCOW, October 6 (Itar-Tass) — United Russia may hold the second part of its Congress before the December 4 parliamentary elections. The Congress is expected to nominate Vladimir Putin the Party's presidential candidate, secretary of the presidium of United Russia's General Council Sergei Neverov confirmed to Itar-Tass on Thursday.

"It is difficult to name the date of the 2nd part of United Russia's Congress because it depends on the date of announcement of the presidential polls. The Federation Council is supposed to make the announcement in the period from November 25 through December. An announcement about the Congress will follow," Neverov said.

"The Congress has not stopped its work, it only announced a pause, and as soon as the decision on holding the elections is announced, the decision on holding the second part of the Congress will be made," he confirmed.

"If the elections are announced on November 25, we'll get together to make a decision (on the second part of the Congress) within the next few days. It might be held before completion of the parliament election campaign," he added.

Spokesman for the prime minister Dmitry Peskov confirmed the possibility that the Congress might be held before December 4.

"The date has not been set yet, but we cannot rule out that the second part of United Russia's Congress might take place before the elections to the State Duma," Peskov told Itar-Tass.

At United Russia's Congress on September 24, President Medvedev, who tops the Party's list at the State Duma elections, suggested nominating Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as presidential candidate. Russia will hold its presidential polls on March 4, 2012.