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Kasyanov has no intention to step down as leader of Russia's Parnas party

According to Russia's former prime minister, "it would be irresponsible to quit a newly-launched ship that is afloat and seen as hope for future changes"
Leader of Russia’s Parnas party, Mikhail Kasyanov Artiom Korotaev/TASS
Leader of Russia’s Parnas party, Mikhail Kasyanov
© Artiom Korotaev/TASS

MOSCOW, September 19. /TASS/. The leader of Russia’s Parnas party, Mikhail Kasyanov, has no intention of stepping down following the party’s unsuccessful performance in the State Duma elections.

"I have no intention of resigning. It would be irresponsible to quit a newly-launched ship that is afloat and seen as hope for future changes," Kasyanov told the media.

He claimed that the returns from the State Duma’s elections were "inauthentic" due to alleged violations on the voting day.

According to the latest election returns the Central Election Commission disclosed on Monday, United Russia will have a total of 343 mandates in the State Duma (76.22% of the seats). In other words, it will enjoy a guaranteed constitutional majority (of no less than 300 mandates). The Communist party may have 42 mandates (9.34%), the LDPR - 39 mandates (8.67%), and A Just Russia, 23 mandates (5.11%). The Communists of Russia placed fifth with 2.31%, followed by Yabloko with 1.94%, the Russian Party of Pensioners for Justice with 1.75%, Rodina with 1.48%, the Party of Growth with 1.25%, the Greens with 0.75%, Parnas with 0.72%, the Patriots of Russia with 0.59%, the Civic Platform, with 0.22% and the Civic Force with 0.14%.

Rodina and the Civic Platform, which failed to get their candidates into the State Duma, will have one mandate each. One seat goes to self-nominated candidate Vladislav Reznik.

According to early statistics, the voter turnout was at 47.75%. The State Duma elections were held on September 18 under a mixed pattern: 225 legislators were elected on party tickets, and 225 in single-member constituencies.