Big drop in support for Putin’s party

VLADIMIR PUTIN’S ruling party suffered a big drop in support in a parliamentary election yesterday and was not certain even of holding on to a majority of seats, an exit poll showed.

If confirmed, the result is a considerable blow to Putin because the election was widely seen as a test of his personal authority before his planned return to the presidency next year.

The poll announced on state television showed Putin’s party, United Russia, would win the election to the state Duma lower house with 48.5% of the votes cast, compared with 64.3% in 2007.