Putin’s United Russia wins 355 seats in Russia’s parliamentary election

MOSCOW, Sept 21 — President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party secured a historic record 355 seats in Russia's 450-seat Duma lower house of parliament, according to preliminary election results released on Monday by electoral chief Ella Pamfilova. With almost all votes counted, the presidential party's supermajority far surpasses its 2016 record of 343 seats.

This marked the first parliamentary election since Russia launched its Ukraine offensive in 2022. The Kremlin exerts tight control over elections and has barred dissenting voices regarding Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine. Pamfilova reported a voter turnout of more than 59 per cent, acknowledging the "psychological pressure" faced by Russians but emphasizing their participation in the democratic process.

The Communist Party secured the second-highest tally with 40 seats, followed by the nationalist LDPR with 25 seats and the New People party with 20 seats. United Russia's dominance in politics dates back to the early 2000s, and Putin has held power since New Year's Eve in 1999. Pamfilova indicated that over 95 per cent of votes have been tallied, with final results expected to be announced later in the week.