Bloomberg: What's At Stake For Putin In The Parliamentary Elections

The war is putting increasing pressure on the Russian economy.

On September 18–20, Russians will elect a new State Duma. These are the first parliamentary elections since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine. A victory for “United Russia” is virtually guaranteed, but for the Kremlin, it is not so much the result itself that matters as voter turnout and the willingness of Russians to support the government amid a protracted war, writes Bloomberg.

The Kremlin is counting on a strong showing for “United Russia,” which could be presented as a vote of confidence in Putin. To boost voter turnout, the authorities are actively using administrative resources.

Meanwhile, the war is putting increasing pressure on the Russian economy. Military spending is rising, inflation remains high, interest rates are hitting businesses and consumers, and the GDP growth forecast for 2026 has been lowered to 0–1%. Strikes by Ukrainian drones on oil refineries have also led to fuel shortages and rising gasoline prices.

“These elections will serve as an important indicator of Russians’ sentiment amid the war and mounting economic pressure,” writes Bloomberg.

There is no real political competition in the elections. Independent media have been virtually driven out of the Russian information space, and potential candidates are carefully screened. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), “Fair Russia—For the Truth,” and “New People” propose social measures and compete with one another in patriotic rhetoric, but do not question the Kremlin’s course. “Yabloko” was barred from the election.

Voting will also take place in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Moscow is using the elections to bolster its claims to these regions.

The new Duma will serve until 2030—a period when Putin could potentially run for a sixth presidential term. Therefore, despite the predictable outcome, the Kremlin is closely monitoring voter turnout and public sentiment.

“For Putin, it is important not just to win, but to demonstrate that the war has not undermined public support for his rule,” the publication notes.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail [email protected]