( Interfax ) - President Vladimir Putin "thankfully" accepted a proposal by the pro-Kremlin United Russia on Monday that he head its ticket for December's State Duma elections.
United Russia "can and must become an effective instrument for achieving social stability and for making the future parliament and the entire state system effective, be an initiator of development and provide support for executive bodies of government in implementing all their plans," Putin told a United Russia congress in Moscow.
"It is, of course, possible and necessary to speak about this. Therefore, I thankfully accept your proposal that I should head the United Russia ticket," he said.