Moscow. President Vladimir Putin's party is once again likely to get a clear majority in Russia. Putin has been in power in Russia for a long time. Even in the elections held this year, party supporters have shown massive voter turnout. According to the data released by the Central Election Commission, Putin's party – United Russia has got more than 57 percent votes. Change in vote percentage is possible when the final figures come. Opposition to President Vladimir Putin's policies remained almost non-existent. The Kremlin's dominance is expected to strengthen. Reports of voting rigging and problems with electronic voting also emerged.
What is special in the election results, how is the performance of which party?
Russia's Central Election Commission said in a statement late Sunday night (Russian time), “Preliminary results of the election have come in.” The ruling party- United Russia has got more than 57.54% votes. Based on these preliminary results, it is believed that Putin's hold on power will become stronger. The special thing is that for the first time after the military conflict with Ukraine that started in the year 2022, general elections have been held.
Russia's Central Election Commission said voting began on Friday for 111 million eligible voters. It also included residents of four regions of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed after the war but still does not have full control over. Residents of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, also took part in the voting. Kiev and the European Union denounced voting in Russian-controlled areas as illegal. He urged foreign governments not to recognize the results. Even after voting ended in Russian-controlled areas of Russia and Ukraine, voting continued at embassies and consulates in Western time zones. The Kremlin wants to use this parliamentary election to show public support for the war and legitimize its actions.
Kremlin's main party gets huge majority
Preliminary results showed that four other parties that almost always vote in favor of the Kremlin are certain to return to the lower house of parliament – the State Duma. According to the Central Election Commission, about 58% of the polling stations have been counted. United Russia received approximately 58% of the votes among the 225 MPs allocated on the basis of party lists.
Another 225 MPs will be elected in single-seat elections, with United Russia in position to win a majority of seats in those as well. Most opposition parties were barred from contesting the election, and the election took place in an environment of the harshest political repression and violations of freedom of expression in Russia since the Soviet era.
The Kremlin has tried to avoid political risks by suppressing dissent. A massive state media campaign and tight control over elections in the absence of a real opposition will help the Kremlin maintain its grip on Russian politics. This is happening amid rising economic costs and Ukrainian drone attacks. Voters cast two separate ballots, filling half of the Duma seats. The remaining seats elected individual candidates in single-seat constituencies. The main Kremlin party, United Russia, is expected to retain its overwhelming control of the lower house, the State Duma. Small parties of 'systemic opposition' will also maintain their presence.
Will the Kremlin's control strengthen?
The Kremlin views the parliamentary election as a means to show public support for the war, the first after a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is also attempting to legitimize its actions. He has tried to avoid political risks by suppressing any dissent. The election is tightly controlled in the absence of a large state media campaign and real opposition. This will help the Kremlin maintain its strong hold on Russian politics. This is happening amid rising economic costs and Ukrainian drone attacks. Voters cast two separate ballots for the 450 Duma seats; Political parties are elected for half the seats, while individual candidates are elected for the rest. The main Kremlin party, United Russia, is expected to retain its overwhelming control of the lower house, the State Duma. Small parties of 'systemic opposition' will also maintain their presence.
What problems faced electronic voting in Moscow?
Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission, said on Sunday that electronic voting systems in Moscow were targeted by cyber attacks. He blamed one of the 'systemic parties' for this, but did not take anyone's name. Sota Vision, an independent Russian news outlet, reported a technical glitch in the electronic registration system at Moscow polling stations on Sunday. The outlet reported on Telegram that people were not given paper ballots, but were asked to vote through electronic terminals. Leonid Volkov, a close aide of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, suggested that the breakdown of the paper ballot system may have been deliberate. Its objective was to push voters towards electronic voting. 'Demand for paper ballots!' wrote. Many voters refused to vote electronically, leading to queues outside polling stations. Yabloko party leader Nikolai Rybakov cast a ballot in St. Petersburg, seen with the words 'for freedom,' 'for peace,' and 'Yabloko' written on it.
How did the Russian opposition protest abroad?
Russia's exiled opposition, including Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, called on anti-war Russians to vote on Sunday afternoon. Thousands of Russians living in Armenia took part in the voting. They stood in line outside the Russian Embassy in the capital, Yerevan. Some of them joined an anti-war demonstration called 'Afternoon for a Peaceful Russia'. They were holding anti-war and anti-Putin posters. Journalist Mark Podberezin said that members of the election commission in Yerevan made comments that were 'openly intimidating'. He had heard that 'you will have to return to Russia sooner or later, keep this in mind.' Lidia Klimenko said she did not think her vote would have any real impact. He said the most useful thing was 'seeing other people who are against the war, being together in a common purpose.' In Germany, voters cast their ballots at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Dissident and former head of the Open Russia group Andrei Pivovarov addressed the protest gathered outside the building.