Pro-Putin party wins Russian regional elections

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 14 Sep 2023 by Alex Teddy
On September 14 all the results were in. The United Russia won a handsome victory. It controls the great majority of regional legislatures and governorships. This includes Russian-controlled Ukraine. But United Russia is less popular in the Far East than elsewhere. This is a relatively poor area. In some places United Russia won 70% of the vote. This is a much better result for them than last time these regions were contested in 2018. Back then Russia was gripped by tension due to raising the pension age. The Communists won Oryol and Khakasia, where they have always had significant support.  The Kremlin had United Russia win by casting bogus votes and pressuring public sector workers to vote. Many voters assume the ballot is not secret. Surveys in 2022 show voters want war veterans to receive real benefits and they are unimpressed by jingoism. Laws have made it almost impossible for civic organizations to monitor the elections. Real opposition candidates are banned as extremist. Despite that, the government would still prefer to be popular. It would like to enjoy genuine support. United Russia candidates were confident enough to run under the UR banner and not as independents. The Mayor of Moscow ran as a UR candidate. He had previously tried to downplay his membership in UR. He emphasized that Moscow will rebuild east Ukraine and he will improve life in Moscow. Muscovites are far less likely to be drafted than people from elsewhere. They are less invested in the war.  UR says it will improve the economy and build infrastructure. But with the economy stagnating and very little money left for infrastructure it is surprising this worked. In the election Putin went to ope...

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