Turn to support: United Russia will strengthen assistance to participants in the SWOT

"United Russia" is working on additional measures to support participants of the SWO, including their employment, the State Duma told "Izvestiya". This will be reflected in the party's people's program, which will be amended on December 14 at the annual congress. The party will also continue to actively pursue the topics of regional development, social support, and education. This will be the first congress of United Russia after the renewal of its leadership in mid-2024, when Vladimir Yakushev replaced Andrei Turchak as Secretary of the General Council. On what to expect from the upcoming congress - in the material "Izvestia".

How United Russia supports the participants of the SWO

Making changes to the people's program and charter, as well as the planned rotation of the supreme and general councils of the party will be the main issues of the XXII Congress of "United Russia" (ER), which will be held on December 14 in Moscow. This was announced earlier by Vladimir Yakushev, acting secretary of the United Russia General Council.

- The most important change is that the program includes a separate section devoted to the participants of the SWO and their support. This direction will have a separate curator," he emphasized.

"United Russia" has been working systematically to support the participants of the special operation and their families since the first days of the special operation: they already have access to credit and tax vacations, the right to free higher education, free meals for children in schools and free vouchers to summer camps.

The fixing of the profile direction in the party program is a signal to all authorities that United Russia considers this work a priority, State Duma deputy Ekaterina Stenyakina told Izvestia. She noted that support measures are being developed in contact with the participants of the SWO and their family members.

- In particular, now we are working on simplifying the procedure for adopting children by the participants of SWO," she said. - We sometimes have situations when children live in the same family, but some of them use social support measures, while others are not entitled to it, although it is the special operation participant, not the biological father, who raises these children.

On the basis of the President's instruction, the work on employment of participants of special operations has been allocated to a separate block. In addition to the party project "My Career", social and psychological support within the work team is important, believes Deputy Stenyakina.

- If a SWO participant is demobilized and finds a new job, it is important that he or she has a mentor at work. Now this can be realized thanks to the amendments to the Labor Code, which were adopted on the initiative of United Russia this year and will come into force on March 1, 2025," she said.

"United Russia" actively involves the participants of the SWO in the social and political life of the country. The head of the party's central executive committee, Alexander Sidyakin, recently reported that 308 people became deputies from the United Russia party at various levels following the results of the unified voting day held in September. According to Sidyakin, the induction of these people into the party's governing bodies is "a visible confirmation of our president's words that the members of the ER are the new elite of our country."

The ER remains a key element of the country's party-political system. Political scientist Vladimir Shapovalov notes that the recent elections held in September confirmed its position as the largest party, which enjoys the well-deserved trust of the majority of the country's citizens.

- It is no coincidence that the party's program is called the people's program, as it is made up of the requests and wishes of various groups of the population. "United Russia is a bastion of political consensus to support Russia's goals to protect its sovereignty and progressive development of the country," the expert told Izvestia.

Social policy and education initiatives

The topics of regional development and social support are also among United Russia's priorities. On the instructions of the president, the United Russia Party continues to gradually increase the minimum wage at a rate outpacing inflation with the help of its legislative initiatives. Andrei Isaev, deputy head of the party's faction in the State Duma, told Izvestia.

- In accordance with the legislation, from the beginning of 2025, the minimum wage will be tied to the median wage. Next year it will be set at a level not lower than 48% of this value and will amount to Br22,440. Thus, the minimum wage will exceed the minimum subsistence level of an able-bodied person by 16%," said the politician.

Work on the legislation in the field of employment is also ongoing, notes Andrei Isayev.

- Previously, it was only stipulated that the salary of temporary employees sent to another employer cannot be lower than the salary of permanent employees performing the same function. Now we equalize them in terms of working conditions and safety," emphasized the deputy head of the ER faction in the State Duma.

The party places no less important emphasis on the sphere of education and science. Alexander Mazhuga, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, told Izvestia that the lower house is scheduled to prioritize consideration of bills on state support for young scientists, improving the quality of medical education, and developing the institution of federal educational and methodological associations.

- Science is done by scientists, and today, more than ever, it is important to develop and implement various tools to support young researchers, - said the deputy.

Today the party project for the development of scientific tourism called "Mendeleev tour" is successfully implemented, which is aimed at popularization of science and promotes the prestige of scientific professions.

- Science today is reaching a new level, becoming a priority of state policy, as well as arousing great interest on the part of citizens of our country. 78% of the country's residents are proud of the achievements of Russian science, shows a new VTsIOM survey for 2024, - concluded Alexander Mazhuga.

"United Russia" on the international arena

"United Russia" is actively developing its activities in the international arena. In particular, on December 11-12, Dmitry Medvedev, the party's leader and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, visited China. He held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and noted that this is the second time that inter-party consultations at the level of heads of ruling parties have been held.

- The party has large and diverse contacts with political forces of other countries that are close in ideological terms. In this sense, the visit of the United Russia leader to China emphasizes the importance of contacts with parties from the BRICS states, the world majority, with which Russia pursues a coordinated policy, forming the foundations of a just world order of the future, - said Vladimir Shapovalov.

Since 2021, the party has had a general council commission on international cooperation and support for compatriots abroad under the leadership of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In 2024, the first international forum "For the Freedom of Nations" was held, which was attended by representatives of more than 50 states. Special attention was paid to countering attempts of external interference in the affairs of sovereign states.