Putin to attend ONF congress Wednesday

President Vladimir Putin will attend the founding congress of the All-Russia Popular Front (ONF) on Wednesday. In the presence of the Head of State, 1,500 delegates are to decide on the question of who will be leader of the movement. According to statements made by the organizers of the congress, in this sense, all hopes of the participants in the forum are being set precisely on Putin. ONF leader is to be elected by an open ballot. The ONF was brought into being on Putin's initiative two years ago when Russia was preparing for parliamentary and presidential elections. At that time, as the then Prime Minister, Putin explained the essence of the future organization: "The meaning is to create a public association on the basis of public organizations, political parties, and citizens who share common values connected with love for the Fatherland, the growth of people's wellbeing, the strengthening of the might of the State, and a search for just solutions in the social welfare sector". His opinion is that ONFwas set up "so that all the constructive ideas would be in demant, so that civil society -- youth, women's, veteran organizations, business circles, and professional unions and associations -- would have an additional opportunity directly to participate in working out major statesmanly decisions". Putin's concept is that the ONFis a supraparty organization which "brings together most diverse people with most diverse political views, who are united by common basic values regarding the development of our State". ONF took an active part in election campaigns and on its basis Putin's presidential election headquarters was organized. However, after March 2012, ONF did not cease to exsit. In spring 2012 Putin expressed a supposition that ONF would be transformed into a public movement retaining its supra-party status. He also agreed to head the coordinating council of such an organization.