The United Russia Party, affiliated with Vladimir Putin, has emerged as the frontrunner in the recently held parliamentary elections. The Central Election Commission of Russia announced that 95 percent of the votes have been counted, and the party is currently projected to secure 355 seats out of 450 in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, which is the highest number recorded for this party.
Election in the Shadow of War
This election is the first parliamentary election since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the Kremlin has presented it as a referendum to support what it calls a "special military operation." Voters from four partially occupied regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, which Russia illegally annexed in 2022, also participated in this election.
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Criticism and Challenges
However, many analysts believe that this election is not seen as an opportunity for citizens to express their opinions about the war. David Szakonyi, a professor at George Washington University, states: "This electoral field was rigged in favor of the government before the votes were counted, and this election was by no means free and fair." Additionally, the Russian Supreme Court recently barred a peace party named Yabloko from participating in the elections.
Political and Economic Consequences
Experts believe that this election allows the Kremlin to continue justifying its war with Ukraine and further strengthen Putin's power. Given that the United Russia Party now has a stronger majority in parliament, there is a possibility that the parliament will pass stricter laws regarding war efforts.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has warned that Russia may seek to recruit 300,000 new soldiers to bolster its military. He also stated that these forces are unlikely to be deployed in major cities.
The rising cost of living and fuel shortages in Russia due to the war with Ukraine are also other challenges facing the people of this country. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has harshly criticized the situation, claiming that the war in Ukraine has impacted global fuel prices.
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