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New Russian party critical of economic policies, supports political course

The Russian commissioner for businessmen’s rights was elected the Right Cause party’s new leader
Leader of the Right Cause party Boris Titov Alexander Shalgin/Russian State Duma Press Office/TASS
Leader of the Right Cause party Boris Titov
© Alexander Shalgin/Russian State Duma Press Office/TASS

MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Russia’s Right Cause party supports Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy agenda, but is critical about economic policies, the leader of the party and Russian commissioner for businessmen’s rights, Boris Titov, said on Monday.

"We support politically what has been done. We have a big country which is accustomed to the feeling of pride. We must have a clear foreign policy position. Crimea id ours indeed," he said, adding it is painful for him to recall the 1990s "when Russia was not seen," when "its policy fell into oblivion" and Russia was not seen as a player on the global arena.

"On the other hand, we don’t support many things the authorities are doing in the economy. We don’t support the government’s economic program," he stressed.

Titov said he wanted his party to be a constructive opposition force. "We understand that so far we cannot lay claims to have power because our audience - businessmen, people who care - is not representing the majority of the population so far," he said. "That is why we should cooperate with other political forces."

In his words, he hopes for a dialogue with the parliamentary parties on economic issues. "We have a strong team of economists and we should speak up, suggest, persuade that our program is better. Nothing will happen without consent of those who now have majority in the Duma," the business ombudsman admitted.

Titov was elected the party’s new leader at a Right Cause congress on February 29. He said he plans to top the party’s list at the next elections to the Russian State Duma lower parliament house and in case of victory is ready to leave his post of the businessmen’s rights ombudsman to take a seat in the parliament.

The party will hold another congress on March 26 to adopt an election program and take a final decision about the party’s name. Titov has been repeatedly saying he will rebrand the party ahead of the elections. However many of the party’s regional branches object against changing the name. Earlier, Right Cause deputy leader Tatiana Marchenko said the party’s election program, titled the Economy of Growth, is practically ready.

Elections to the lower house of the Russian parliament will be held on September 18 under a mixed system. Half of lawmakers (225) will be elected in one-seat constituencies and the rest will be elected by party tickets.