Communist Party of the Russian Federation

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation is a Russian political party. It thinks of itself as a successor to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of the RSFSR.

Its support had been building steadily since its establishment in 1993 but dropped massively in the 2003 parliamentary elections.

The CPRF is led by Gennady Zyuganov, who called the 2003 elections a 'revolting spectacle' and accuses the Kremlin of setting up a Potemkin party, the Motherland party, to steal its votes.

Polling Figures

• 1993: Duma - 12%
• 1995: Duma - 22%
• 1996: presidential - 29% (second round)
• 1999: Duma - 24%
• 2000: presidential - 40% (first round)
• 2003: Duma - 12%