RUSSIAN PARTY OF LIFE TO HOLD CONGRESS IN MOSCOW

MOSCOW, January 4 (RIA Novosti correspondent Nikolai Makarov) - The Russian Party of Life will hold a congress in Moscow on January 4. The nomination of Sergei Mironov, Speaker of the Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, and leader of the party, for president will be the central issue on the congress agenda, reports the party's press service.

Mr Mironov voiced the intention to stand for president in late December 2003. One of the reasons behind this decision is the desire to make the government's policy more "socially oriented," according to Mr Mironov.

Moreover, he believes that the presidential elections must be fair, democratic and there must be an option of candidates.

The presidential elections are due to take place on March 14, 2004.

The delegates to the congress are also expected to analyze the results of the recent parliamentary vote. The Russian Party of Life and the Party of Russia's Revival led by Gennady Seleznyov, Speaker of the third State Duma, parliament's lower house, stood for parliament as a bloc. The "bloc of two speakers" secured the support of as little as 1.88% of voters.