Russia gives USD 7 billion to pensioners and military personnel

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 24 Aug 2021 by Alex Teddy

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On August 24 Putin told deputies of the United Russia party that money should be paid to senior citizens and those serving in the armed forces. USD 135 will be paid to each pensioner and USD 200 to each person in the military regardless of rank. In September 2021 parliamentary elections will take place. United Russia wants a supermajority in the Duma - that is a two-thirds majority. However, the party's ratings are about their lowest ever. Income compression and slow vaccination have seriously dented the party's standing. United Russia is perceived as Putin's party even though he has not been a member for over 10 years.The disbursement will be to 47 million people. That is over 40% of the electorate. The elderly have been a crucial vote bank for United Russia and Putin because they the rememebr the 1990s when pensions were pitiful and often went unpaid for months. However, as the older generation dies off the elderly are not as pro-Putin as they used to be. Raising the pension age in 2018 also hit Putin and United Russia's popularity with this demographic.Putin often wears military uniform despite never having been in the military. He has spent lavishly on the military and United Russia is forever extolling the glories of the military. Militarism is presumed to have made the military very supportive of United Russia and Putin.The windfall payments will probably lead to a 0.2% rise in inflation. That is exactly what the government wants to avoid.