Putin Calls on Leaders of Duma Parties to Justify Citizens' Expectations

The parties that have overcome 5% barrier to the Russia's lower house must meet their voters' expectations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The parties that passed a 5-percent threshold to enter into Russia's lower house of parliament must meet their voters' expectations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"Success in elections is always a new challenge, a new frontier, because people associate elections with their expectations, and these expectations have to be justified," Putin said at a meeting with party leaders.

The governing United Russia party gained 343 seats in the 450-seat State Duma in the September 18 elections. It was followed by the Communist Party with 42, the Liberal Democrat Party with 39, A Just Russia with 23 and one mandate apiece to the Rodina and Civic Platform parties.