Parlamentswahl: Russland – Kremlpartei baut Zweidrittelmehrheit aus

The ruling United Russia party, the Kremlin's main political force, is expanding its overwhelming two-thirds majority in the Russian State Duma following the parliamentary election. According to data from Russia's Central Election Commission, United Russia is set to secure at least 338 mandates, roughly a dozen more than before, reported the Russian news agency Interfax.

As of the morning, more than 90 percent of the ballots, including electronic ones, had been counted. Chief election official Ella Pamfilova planned to announce the preliminary final results in the morning. Currently, only four parties remain in the Duma, down from five. Only four parties are expected to be represented in the State Duma, according to the latest tally, reported Interfax citing the election chief.

United Russia came out on top with 57.86 percent of the votes, Interfax said, based on the count of nearly all the ballots. The Communist Party came in second with 13.84 percent; the ultra-nationalist LDPR took 8.9 percent; and the popular party for liberal big cities, New People, received 7.94 percent. United Russia failed to reach the five percent threshold needed to be included in the final results, after it lagged behind in the evening and overnight (4.95 percent).

Russian elections have been criticized as unfair and undemocratic due to the exclusion of a genuine opposition and the lack of press and freedom of expression. Independent experts and the opposition in exile accused the election commission of manipulating the results. Kremlin critics called it a farce. All parties support President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

United Russia now even brings war veterans into Parliament. During a severe economic crisis, war fatigue, and widespread dissatisfaction with the country's situation, voter turnout reached the highest level in 15 years, with more than 56 percent of eligible voters participating. For Putin, the election serves as a clear signal to continue the full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

People were called to vote from Friday to Sunday for the new State Duma members in Moscow. The anti-war party Jabloko and other opposition forces were not allowed to participate.