Putin's party secures record score in Russia election

On September 21, Russia's United Russia party secured a record number of seats in the Duma, the lower house of parliament, according to preliminary election results announced by electoral authorities. With 355 of the 450 seats, United Russia surpassed its previous record of 343 seats, granting the party an even greater supermajority. This supermajority allows the party to alter the constitution if necessary.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the result indicated a strong unity among Russians around President Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999. The Kremlin-controlled election, which took place without opposition parties, showcased over 59% voter turnout, despite the Kremlin's attempts at psychological pressure.

Election chief Ella Pamfilova expressed gratitude for the Russians' participation, despite what she described as "psychological pressure." Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and the displacement of millions, influenced the election. The only party advocating for an end to the war was removed from the ballot.

The Communist Party secured second place with 40 seats, while the nationalist LDPR and New People parties won 25 and 20 seats, respectively. In Chechnya, President Ramzan Kadyrov received 99.85% of the vote, reflecting the Kremlin's strong grip on power in the region. Political opponents of Putin, such as opposition leader Alexei Navalny, remain banned or incarcerated, underscoring the lack of genuine democratic alternatives in Russia.