MOSCOW – Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party struggled to hang onto its majority in Russia's parliamentary election

Despite the sobering setback, he was still expected to have little trouble reclaiming the position he held from 2000 to 2008.

Putting a positive spin on the disappointing returns, Putin said "we can ensure the stable development of the country with this result." But he appeared glum when speaking to supporters at United Russia headquarters and limited his remarks to a terse statement.