The ruling party of Russian President Vladimir Putin, United Russia, has secured a record majority in the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. According to preliminary results from the September 18-20 legislative elections, United Russia won 355 out of 450 seats. This surpasses the party's previous record of 343 seats achieved in the 2016 legislative elections. With over 95% of ballots counted, United Russia garnered around 58% of the vote.
The Communist Party came in second with 40 seats, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) with 25 seats, and New People with 20 seats. The Central Election Commission reported a voter turnout of over 59%, which was described as exceptionally high for this type of election. The commission's chair, Ella Pamfilova, announced the turnout on September 21. The final results were expected to be released in the following days.
These legislative elections were the first to take place in Russia since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The elections occurred amidst the ongoing war and restrictions on several opposition groups and individuals. The outcome grants United Russia a constitutional majority, equivalent to at least two-thirds of the State Duma's seats. This majority provides the party with significant leeway in passing legislation.
The elections were marked by cyberattacks on electoral infrastructure. According to Pamfilova, there were over 1,000 waves of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. However, she did not publicly attribute the origin of these attacks. During the election period, Moscow and its region were targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes, resulting in damage and casualties. Ukrainian authorities claimed responsibility for some of these operations.
The conduct of the elections drew criticism from abroad. The European Union questioned the holding of elections in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia and expressed concerns about the voting conditions. Despite this, United Russia's victory solidifies its dominance in the State Duma as Russia continues its military campaign in Ukraine.
The significance of this victory for United Russia and its implications for Russian politics and governance are being closely watched. The party's enhanced majority could lead to more decisive actions on policy and legislative fronts. As Russia navigates its relationship with Ukraine and the international community, the outcome of these elections sets the stage for the country's future political trajectory.
Moving forward, United Russia's strengthened position in the State Duma is likely to influence various aspects of Russian domestic and foreign policy. The party's leadership, under President Putin, will have considerable power to shape the country's legislative agenda. International observers will continue to monitor the situation, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its broader geopolitical implications.
Key points
- United Russia won a record 355 seats in the State Duma.
- The party secured a constitutional majority, granting it significant legislative power.
- The elections took place amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine and faced criticism from abroad.
