(VOVworld) – The ruling United Russia party won the recent State Duma election. Despite challenges, United Russia still has the voters’ confidence. Its victory should pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to win the 2018 election.
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the headquarters of the United Russia Party in Moscow after the election of Sep.18 (photo: AFP/VNA) |
With over 76% of the vote, the United Russia Party of President Vladimir Putin opened a wide gap with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), which came in second with 13% of the vote. United Russia will fill 343 seats in the 450-seat parliament.
Winning public trust
The Russian Duma election took place in a severe economic recession caused by Western sanctions following the Ukraine crisis and Russia’s military operations in Syria. But it seems economic difficulties have not diminished public confidence in Putin. The West’s sanctions have impacted not only the upper social strata but also ordinary Russians, who see the sanctions as targeting them rather than the government. President Putin represents Russia’s national unity and Russians trust him.
63-year-old Putin has had 17 years in the post of President or Prime Minister. Most voters say it’s difficult to find a capable person to replace Putin. They are worried that if Putin is replaced, Russia will return to the instability that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
Putin aims to improve national prosperity, reduce poverty, and develop the middle class. Russians consider Crimea a source of national pride and triumph. It’s where the Imperial Russian Army fought against British, French, and Turkish forces in the 19th century. They are not demanding that the government change its stance on the Ukrainian issue.
Several challenges
It’s undeniable that economic difficulties have reduced support for the United Russian Party since 2007. Although Putin’s Party continues in control, its popularity has decreased to 41.1%. Russia’s GDP growth last year was 3.7% and is expected to fall to 1.9% this year. For the 4 years starting in 2014 the Russian economy will lose around 600 billion dollars because of Western sanctions and lower oil prices. The World Bank says Russia has entered a period of stagnation. The ruble is falling and Russian banks have been denied access to foreign financial markets.
In the Duma election the people of Crimea also cast votes, two years after Crimea’s annexation to Russia. The US and Ukraine have not accepted the legality of the election in Crimea. This will undermine future efforts to settle the Ukraine conflict.
The United Russian Party’s victory n the Duma election has paved the way for Putin’s administration. Steering the country out of economic difficulties will gain him even more votes in the 2018 election.