Russia’s ruling United Russia party has secured a large majority in the country’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, after receiving 57.83% of the vote, according to near-complete official results.
The Central Election Commission said more than 95% of the ballots had been counted when the figure was reported. United Russia was on course to win 355 of the State Duma’s 450 seats, giving it a constitutional majority.
The result represents an increase from the party’s performance in the previous parliamentary election in 2021, when it received 49.8% of the vote. The latest result would also give United Russia its largest number of seats in the State Duma to date.
President Vladimir Putin had presented the three-day election as a measure of public support for his government and its policies, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The election was the first State Duma vote held since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Other parties also crossed the threshold for representation in the State Duma. The Communist Party received 13.81%, while the Liberal Democratic Party received about 8.98% and New People received 7.96%, according to the reported results.
The large number of seats held by United Russia means the party will continue to have a dominant position in the legislature. Its 355-seat total would allow it to maintain a constitutional majority and pass legislation without relying on support from other parliamentary parties.
However, the election has also faced criticism from outside Russia. France said the vote did not meet the conditions for free elections, citing restrictions on opposition groups, civil society and independent media. Russian officials have defended the election process.
The final results are expected to be formally completed after the remaining election procedures and reviews. The outcome will give United Russia a strong position in the next State Duma and provide the Kremlin with continued parliamentary support for its policies.