Soviets Go to Polls for 2nd Time
Soviet voters turned out Sunday for the second time in two weeks to choose candidates in 64 constituencies where no clear winners emerged for places in a new, more powerful parliament.
The March 26 vote showed public opinion swinging against the Establishment across the country, with scores of senior Communist Party and government officials failing to win election.
Reformist figures were hoping to seize on the public mood to consolidate their gains during the second round, a runoff between the two leaders in multi-candidate contests where no one achieved the necessary 50% of the vote. Initial results are expected today.
The elections are to a newly created Congress of People’s Deputies, which will in turn elect from its members a Supreme Soviet (Parliament), endowed with real executive powers in contrast to its rubber-stamp predecessor.
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