Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai.Putin-backed United Russia wins Russian parliamentary election after Ukraine war, majority remains crucial for president

Russia’s Putin-backed United Russia party has won the parliamentary election, securing 57.5% of the vote in preliminary results. The official results are yet to be announced. The election is the first parliamentary poll since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, making the outcome important for President Vladimir Putin’s government.

The election was held amid the ongoing Ukraine war, with Putin linking the vote to support for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. He appealed to voters to cast their ballots in support of the troops, saying their votes would demonstrate public backing for the soldiers deployed in the conflict.

State Duma has 450 seats and major powers

The State Duma is the lower house of Russia’s parliament and can broadly be compared with India’s Lok Sabha. It has 450 members. Half the seats are decided according to votes received by political parties, while the remaining 225 are filled through direct elections in individual constituencies.

In the 2021 parliamentary election, United Russia won 324 of the 450 seats. Its latest lead is therefore significant for the Putin government, as control of the Duma makes it easier for the government to get laws and policy proposals approved.

The Duma’s key functions include:

• Making new laws and changing existing ones.
• Discussing and approving the federal budget.
• Questioning the government and ministers about their work.
• Voting on legislation and other government proposals.

Why parliamentary majority matters to Putin

Putin’s government needs parliament for several important laws and policies. A majority for parties supporting him makes it easier for the government to secure parliamentary approval for its proposals. The Duma also gives lawmakers a platform to question ministers and examine government policies.

United Russia is closely associated with Putin, although the Russian president is not formally a member of the party. He served as its chairman from 2008 to 2012, despite not being a formal member at the time. In 2012, Putin stepped down and Dmitry Medvedev became the party’s chairman.

Anti-war party kept out of main election

Russia’s anti-war Yabloko party was prevented from contesting the election under its party name. However, some of its leaders were allowed to contest individual constituency seats. Several other opposition leaders and candidates were also denied the opportunity to contest.

Turnout in the election stood at 56.66%. Moscow recorded a record level of voting. The restricted participation of opposition candidates has been a major feature of the election.

Putin campaign linked voting with Ukraine soldiers

Before the election, Putin urged Russians to support soldiers fighting in Ukraine through their vote. He said voting in their support would show that the country stood behind those serving in the war.

Putin has not publicly explained why he never formally joined United Russia. The party’s rules allow a person to serve as its chairman without being a formal member. Therefore, there is no confirmed basis for linking his decision not to join the party to any particular political strategy.

Ukraine launches major drone attack on final day

On the final day of voting, Ukraine launched a major drone attack targeting Moscow and surrounding areas. Russian officials said more than 1,600 drones were sent towards the region, including around 450 that were heading towards Moscow.

At least two people were killed in the attack, including a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said a major oil refinery in the capital was also damaged. No casualties were reported at the refinery.

Residential building hit as hundreds evacuated

A drone struck a 21-storey apartment building, triggering a fire and forcing around 400 people to leave the building. About 70 children were among those evacuated.

The attack also caused a large plume of smoke from the Moscow oil refinery. Russian officials said the drone strikes took place as the country was completing its parliamentary election.

Key points:

• United Russia leads with 57.5% in preliminary results.
• The State Duma has 450 seats.
• United Russia won 324 seats in 2021.
• Turnout in the latest election was 56.66%.
• This was the first parliamentary election since February 2022.
• Yabloko was barred from contesting under its party name.
• Russia reported more than 1,600 drones in the final-day attack.
• Around 400 people were evacuated from the damaged apartment building.

The final official results are still awaited. For Putin’s government, the parliamentary majority remains important because the Duma plays a central role in passing laws, approving the budget and supporting the government’s policy agenda.