Communists in the Money
The Central Elections Commission released the financial records of the political parties for the second quarter of the year yesterday. As expected, expenses are increasing as the State Duma elections draw nearer. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation, whose leaders are continually complaining about their lack of financing is now the third riches party in the land.
The United Russia Party's receipts increased from 303 million rubles in the first quarter to 349.9 million rubles in the second quarter, and its expenses increased from 275 million rubles to 293.4 million rubles over the same period. The party did not have any expenses for the regional elections at the end of the first quarter. Even with its increasing expenses, the party ended the second quarter about 300 million rubles in the black.
Just Russia spent almost all of its money on current needs. Receipts increased from 69.9 million rubles to 106.6 million rubles, and expenses increases almost proportionally from 65.8 million rubles to 95 million rubles. Most of the money spent went for the maintenance of the party's governing organs, but propaganda expenses rose from 4.8 million rubles to 18 million rubles.
The communists were the most successful at filling their treasury, increasing their worth from 46.9 million rubles to 96 million rubles. The Union of Right Forces, formerly sharing third place in the politico-financial pecking order with the LDPR, received only 16.5 million rubles in the second quarter, down from 174.5 million rubles in the first. They still surpassed the communist and LDPR in spending, however, thanks to the money remaining from the first quarter. The rightist spent the most money of all the parties on propagandistic purposes. Just Russia spent the second most, and they were followed by the traditional big spenders in the field, the LDPR.
The People's Patriotic Party, which was disbanded by the Supreme Court, began the quarter with 2600 rubles and ended it with 2500 rubles. The Party of Peace and Unity, which passed its Registration Service check, began and ended the second quarter with 3000 rubles.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 31, 2007
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