United Russia retains constitutional majority in State Duma after September vote
United Russia kept its constitutional majority in the State Duma, securing enough seats to govern without coalition partners.
In the recent parliamentary election, United Russia secured a constitutional majority in the State Duma, allowing it to pass legislation and amend the constitution without needing support from other parties. The Central Election Commission said voter participation was about 59% and that United Russia will hold roughly 355 of the 450 seats. Other parties crossing the 5% threshold included the Communists, LDPR and New People, while Fair Russia did not meet the threshold but may still enter parliament through a regional contest in Novgorod.
The three-day vote, held from 18 to 20 September, was the first nationwide election since Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian authorities called the process legitimate, but exiled opposition activists alleged fraud and a lack of genuine competition. The European Union criticized the election environment as increasingly restrictive and said it would not recognize results from occupied Ukrainian territories.
Why it matters
The result ensures United Russia can shape Russian law and constitutional changes unilaterally.
How this story developed
- Sep 12 Russia conducts tightly-controlled parliamentary vote amid fifth year of Ukraine war
- Sep 16 Voting has begun, moving the election from planning to execution.
- Sep 19 Putin framed the election as a plebiscite on the war and called on citizens to turn out in support.
- Sep 19 State pollster VTsIOM said Putin’s trust rating hit 74.2% in the week before the election.
- Sep 21 Election commission chair Ella Pamfilova said preliminary results will be announced Monday at 11 hours (10 hours in Paris).
- Sep 21 Partial results show United Russia holding at least 338 of the 450 Duma seats.
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