Election Season in Moscow

As we walk around our neighborhood we cannot help but notice the many posters from the different candidates for the state Duma.  Those who win will represent their local regions.  There are several parties involved, such as the one with Vladimir Zhirinovski's picture.  You can see him all over town and he is a well-liked Duma member. 

He is known for his sometimes over-the-top statements and his antics in the Duma where he once had a fist fight with another one of the parliament members, who happened to be female.  

One of his local billboards reads, "Moscow for Muskovites".  This flier showing his picture says, "Only LDPR or suffer further".

Another well advertised party is that of the "United Russia" party with the symbol of the Russian bear.  It is probably the most represented of the parties in the Duma.  It is also sometimes referred to as the Kremlin Party.

The poster which caught my attention though was the one by one of the communist party members who had a very familiar slogan.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation is still very active and have been attracting many of the youth here in Russia.  You can very often see them at street demonstrations during the various holidays waving red flags and chanting slogans.

This poster at left says, "Uniting for the sake of Change". Where have I heard that one before? 

It could be a winning ticket with a slogan like that one.  Of course, the posters also promise free housing and other socialistic ideals.

We shall see what the results will be come October 11th.  I'm sure many will be out to vote.  Interestingly, Russia went from a Monarchy to the Soviet Union's Marxist Socialism and Communism to Democracy under Yeltsin to what many have called an autocratic government of today.  I don't think that this will ever be Soviet again but people do feel comfortable with what they've always had.