Donetsk, May 11 — DAN. More than 1,200 candidates have registered for “United Russia” (ER) political party primaries in the Donetsk People’s Republic, DPR parliament deputy speaker, first deputy secretary of the ER’s regional branch Sergey Prokopenko told the Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.
“(We have) more than 1,200 people (candidates) for a total of 640 mandates for the region, including 90 deputies of the People’s Council (parliament) and municipal councils’ deputies, ” Prokopenko said.
There are residents of Russian regions among the candidates. Primaries are opened to all: they can apply and register, and then it will be decided by people, he said.
Primaries are selection of candidates from a political party for their further participation in the elections. “United Russia” is the only party in the country which holds preliminary voting. It is open to Russian citizens — Party members and supporters, as well as to non-partisan candidates. Preliminary voting will be held online on May 22-28. The DPR will set up polling stations and arrange field voting. The nomination of candidates ran from March 8 through April 27. At present, the registration of candidates continues.*jk