Ruling party takes responsibility for Russia’s stable development

Apart many other issues, the participants in the meeting discussed the party's ideology and agreed this to be Russian conservatism. This has nothing to do with reactionism but stability. The ruling party put emphasis on the modernization of the national economy and anti-bureaucratic policies.

In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, Russia's ruling party decided to hold the meeting without unnecessary pomp. The session took place at Lenexpo exhibition hall in Saint Petersburg which is not as luxurious as the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant Yard) exhibition ground in Moscow. The party members and the guests were often seen standing in queues but still there was enough room for everyone in the hall when President Dmitry Medvedev appeared to address the audience. Mr. Medvedev said that modernization should be viewed as a foundation for prosperous economy as well as successful implementation of the policies proclaimed by the United Russia party.

"The United Russia party will be able to remain its dominance in politics only if it manages to modernize the national economy. This is the main task today. To be a ruling party imposes a high responsibility, and I hope all of you understand that the leading position is not a lifelong privilege. It requires hard daily work. The citizens have the right to demand precise results from us".

Dmitry Medvedev reproached members of the party with abusing their administrative powers during the regional elections in October, criticized them for backwardness and urged to get rid of bad political habits.

The party's chairman and Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin spoke on the economic issues. It took him about an hour to tell about all anti-crisis measures taken by the government and explained to the colleagues which results they should strive for next year. Mr. Putin mentioned the ruling party in connection with ongoing financial downturn.

"You remember how difficult the situation then was. At the very beginning of the crisis the United Russia took responsibility for the situation and promised to prevent the defaults of 1991 and 1998. We kept our word. Though many problems, of course, remain. Now we must continue the implementation of the policies aimed to help our economy cope with the crisis aftermath".

Prime Minister criticized state officials at all levels for their bureaucratic thinking. After the country's leaders outlined the key tasks, the party reported everything said in their program documents. The chairman of the party's supreme council, Boris Gryzlov, drew a parallel between conservatism and modernization and urged his colleagues to pay much attention to those members of the party who fail to work honestly, because, as Mr. Medvedev put it, improvements will become real only if the United Russia works effectively.