http://www.boston.com/dailynews/336/world/Putin_consolidates_his_support:.shtml

Putin consolidates his support further as three political movements merge

By Mara D. Bellaby, Associated Press, 12/2/2001 01:37

MOSCOW (AP) Three political movements that support President Vladimir Putin have merged, the latest step in the growing consolidation of political forces under the Russian leader.

Putin, who addressed the group's founding congress in the Kremlin Palace on Saturday, welcomed the new party as an example of politicians ''supporting the unifying processes occurring in Russian society.''

Delegates at the third congress of the Union of Unity and Fatherland voted unanimously to create the new centrist party, joining the Unity and Fatherland movements with the All Russia movement, Russian news media reported. The new party will be called the All-Russian Unity and Fatherland party.

Putin, who easily won the presidency in the spring of 2000, is Russia's most popular politician. His dominant position has attracted the support of politicians who once opposed the Kremlin, creating a political climate in which opposition forces are quite weak.

The latest political consolidation is likely to worry Putin's critics, who fear he is discouraging political dissent.

In July, Putin approved a new law that sharply limits the number of political parties. Putin said the law would strengthen parties by creating a few major ones, instead of the small groups that have contested past elections.

But critics say it will reduce voters' choice and make parties financially dependent on the government. They said it was evidence of an overall attempt to centralize power in the hands of the Kremlin.

Putin told the party congress that Russia needs ''normal, healthy political competition.'' But he added that politicians must pursue that ''without the fruitless fight that weakens the state system, undermines respect for authority and the essence of democracy,'' according to Interfax.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001