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Russia's ruling party picks Putin as presidential candidate

Xinhua, November 28, 2011

• The ruling United Russia party Sunday officially nominated Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as its presidential candidate in the March elections.

  Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks during a United Russia party congress in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been formally nominated by the ruling United Russia party to run for president in next March's election. [Xinhua photo]

  A total of 614 representatives from the United Russia party and the All-Russia People's Front movement unanimously approved the nomination in the party's congress.

  "I am grateful to (President) Dmitry Medvedev and the United Russia congress for nominating me as candidate and for the proposal to run for president of the Russian Federation. I accept this proposal with gratitude, of course," Putin said.

  He also told party supporters that it was necessary to seek social justice and introduce higher taxes on luxury goods.

  "Today it is obvious that Russian citizens and society want the authorities to ensure justice. Every decision and every step must meet the interests of the absolute majority," Putin said. "Taxes for common citizens should not be burdensome while luxury and over-consumption should be taxed at a higher rate."

  The prime minister also warned that overseas efforts to influence Russia's elections are "useless," saying the move is just like "throwing money to the wind."

  "Representatives of certain foreign states are gathering and paying money to the so-called grant recipients and instructing them, advising them to do corresponding work with the final goal of influencing the course of the election campaign in our country. That is useless," Putin said.

  Putin was interrupted several times by applause from the 10,000 supporters in the stadium.

  Medvedev, who also attended the congress, lauded Putin as the most successful, experienced and popular politician in Russia.

  "An overwhelming majority of our citizens trust Putin and link with him their hopes for the future," Medvedev said.

  Putin and Medvedev both expressed hope that voters support the United Russia in next week's parliamentary elections.

  Russia's presidential election campaign officially began Saturday.

  Putin, who stepped down in 2008 after two presidential terms, announced in September that he would seek the presidency in 2012. Medvedev agreed to head the ruling United Russia's list for the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections.

  The United Russia, established in December 2001, is the dominant party force with more than 2 million members. Putin has been the leader of the party since May 2008.

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