Russia’s parliamentary election has produced few surprises so far, with the ruling United Russia party leading by a wide margin in preliminary results.
The three-day vote ended on Sunday, September 20, with early figures indicating that United Russia will remain the dominant force in the State Duma.
The election was the first parliamentary vote held since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Early Results Put United Russia Ahead
With a portion of the votes counted, United Russia had received around 57.5% of the party-list vote, according to preliminary figures reported by Reuters.
The Communist Party, LDPR, New People and Just Russia were behind the ruling party but were also expected to secure representation in the new parliament.
Russia’s State Duma has 450 seats.
Half are elected through party lists, while the remaining seats are filled through individual constituency contests.
Yabloko Excluded From Party-List Contest
One of the major developments before the election involved the liberal Yabloko party.
Yabloko had opposed the war in Ukraine and sought to present a pro-peace alternative to voters.
However, Russia’s Supreme Court removed the party from the national party-list ballot after authorities alleged violations of electoral regulations.
Yabloko disputed the allegations.
Some of its candidates were still allowed to contest individual constituencies.
Putin Presented Vote as Test of Support
President Vladimir Putin had described the election as an opportunity for Russians to demonstrate their support for the country and its military.
The Kremlin has promoted the vote as a demonstration of national unity.
At the same time, Reuters reported that most anti-war candidates were excluded from the election, leaving voters with a limited range of political choices.
Election Held Amid War and Economic Pressure
The parliamentary vote took place as Russia continued its war against Ukraine.
The conflict has also contributed to economic pressures inside Russia, including fuel shortages, high interest rates and labour shortages.
Ukraine has continued to attack Russian energy infrastructure with drones.
A major Ukrainian drone assault struck Moscow and other Russian regions during the final day of voting, according to Russian authorities.
Political Impact Remains to Be Seen
The strong preliminary performance by United Russia points to continuity in the State Duma.
However, the vote share of the other parties could provide the Kremlin with information about public dissatisfaction and changing voter preferences.
Reuters reported that the Communist Party and New People could gain from voters who are dissatisfied with the effects of the war but still choose parties permitted to participate in the political system.
The final results, including the single-member constituency races, will determine the precise composition of the next State Duma.
BBC
