Doing is time: Putin instructed United Russia to make changes to its program
The United Russia party will have to make serious, substantive changes to its program, supplementing it with new specific commitments. This was announced by Vladimir Putin at the XXII Congress of the political force. Although much has already been done for the people, "there are still a carload and a small cartload of problems," the president said. Moreover, the status of the majority party makes higher demands on its members. The congress approved a series of new social measures and promised to discuss the implementation of the programs with its voters. It also renewed the composition of the general and supreme councils, which included dozens of SVO fighters. Veterans of special operations should be in demand in solving state tasks, said Vladimir Putin. How the governing bodies of the party and its People's Program have changed - in the material of "Izvestia".
How was the congress of "United Russia"
December 14 in Moscow was one of the main political events of the year - the XXII Congress of "United Russia". Party members gathered at the site of the national center "Russia", where "migrated" the heritage of the famous exhibition-forum of the same name, held at VDNH. Here, among the main achievements of the Russian regions, almost 2,000 delegates from all over the country gathered: governors, ministers, senators, deputies of the State Duma and local parliaments.
At times, the atmosphere was more like a reunion than a political event. The fact is that many delegates have several decades of party experience, so many of them know each other well and for quite a long time, but due to working circumstances they rarely see each other. For example, Roman Starovoit, former head of the Kursk Region (now Minister of Transportation), told Izvestia that he had already met on the sidelines with Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor, who has been in office for almost 10 days, and discussed "some points.
Russian Minister of Transportation Roman Starovoit
Andrei Turchak, who headed United Russia's general council for seven years but moved to the post of head of the Altai Republic in June, also came to the congress. For the first time since 2017, the central event of the country's largest political force was held with a new person as secretary of the general council - in June, Turchak was replaced by former presidential envoy to the UFO Vladimir Yakushev.
A kind of "spark" in the situation was also added by the reports that appeared in the media the day before that the head of the Altai Republic allegedly appealed to the leadership of United Russia with a request not to extend his powers in the general council of the party at all.
This was confirmed by the results of the United Russia congress: as a result of rotation, Andrei Turchak was removed from the party's general council. However, the body was replenished with the Hero of Russia military cameraman Yevgeny Poddubny and more than 10 other members of the SWO. Vladimir Yakushev got rid of the prefix "vrio" and became a full-fledged head of the general council. Vladimir Vasilyev, head of the United Russia faction in the State Duma, told Izvestia that the deputies had no problems working with the new secretary of the General Council.
- We don't need to work together, he was well known to us and the faction has been working with Vladimir Vladimirovich for a long time," Vasilyev said.
In addition to the general, the Supreme Council was also renewed: about 10 Heroes of Russia were also included in its composition, among them Magomed Daudov, Yuri Abayev, Andrannik Gasparyan, Vladislav Golovin.
Adjustments were also made to the party's charter. In particular, they were dictated by the requests of the primary branches. The amendments simplified some previously bureaucratized procedures.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Now the party's main document provides for more flexible rules for acquiring the status of a party member by a supporter, "taking into account active participation in the party's activities, other merits in achieving the goals and objectives of the party", authorizing local political councils to participate in the determination of candidates for heads of municipalities and heads of local administrations of municipal districts, city and municipal groups, as well as to hold meetings of the presidiums of regional political councils in absentia.
- This is precisely one of the directions of Yakushev's team's changes - de-bureaucratization and digitization. Like any party, United Russia needs to periodically go through a purge of bureaucratic procedures, which is what Yakushev is doing now. He has already, for example, reduced dozens of reporting documents, which is being applauded by the regions and local branches. He plans to make digital tools more convenient and understandable for party members so that they actually use them, rather than reporting on their use," political scientist Dmitry Yelovsky explained to Izvestia.
Thus, the United Russia congress completed the party's reset after the arrival of the new leadership.
What the President drew the attention of United Russia
President Vladimir Putin also took part in the meeting of the XXII Congress. The leitmotif of the head of state's address to the united Russians was the special military operation and support for the fighters and veterans of the NWO, in particular in civilian professions, in public and political life. Today, he said, the participants of the SVO who have returned home should be in demand in solving state tasks. A special personnel program for the veterans of the NWO - "Time of Heroes" - is designed to help them do this.
- We have deliberately avoided unnecessary formal restrictions - anyone who has proved himself during a special military operation - both commander and private - can apply. You know about it - there are tens of thousands of those wishing to apply. Now the second stream of the program is being formed. The training of the first one continues. But its participants, without waiting for the awarding of diplomas, are already offered, entrusted with high posts and big tasks in the "civilian life", - said the head of state.
Vladimir Putin suggested expanding the "Time of Heroes" project and launching similar regional programs. Party Chairman Dmitry Medvedev promised that the United Russia party will fulfill the set tasks. Vladimir Putin also considered United Russia's decision to support veterans of the SVO in their participation in the elections to be correct. In the fall campaign, 385 veterans and special operation participants took part, 312 of them won.
- The demand for strong, strong-willed people who have passed severe tests and are ready to take responsibility is extremely high, and the country needs them. It is not by chance that more than 300 of our comrades-in-arms, veterans of the special military operation have already received the support of voters in various elections in our country this year. And people trust such candidates, count on their integrity, honesty and professionalism," the President said.
In general, United Russia and other parliamentary parties have been supporting the front from day one. Moreover, both deputies of the State Duma and municipal leaders of various levels went to the front themselves, Vladimir Putin reminded.
- This is a courageous, bold step worthy of all respect," he said.
In addition, parliamentarians are promptly drafting the necessary laws, assisting in the reconstruction of the liberated regions, as well as in the collection of humanitarian supplies. Since the beginning of the special operation, the EP has delivered to the liberated territories more than 134 thousand tons of humanitarian aid, as well as more than 20 thousand drones. Also, the party at the congress included in the People's Program its main document with party initiatives - a new direction that will be responsible for supporting the participants of the SVO and their families.
-"We have a new direction - 'Support for participants of the NWO and their families'. It includes 13 provisions, including ensuring professional retraining of fighters and their family members, creating conditions for involvement in public and political life, and providing comprehensive medical rehabilitation," Darya Lantratova, a member of the presidium of the party's general council, told Izvestia.
What changes have been included in the People's Program of the party
However, the United Russia party still has to make serious and substantial changes to its People's Program, supplementing it with new specific commitments, Vladimir Putin believes. In fact, the party needs to approve a roadmap for the practical implementation of all the large-scale plans for the next six years, he explained.
Speaking to the party members, the head of state said that he had already familiarized himself with some of the questions from Russians, which they sent to the direct line to the president on December 19. Despite the fact that much has already been done, "there are still, as we say, a carload and a small cart of problems," the president said. One of the further areas of work, which the head of state cited as an example, is the capital repair of more than 11 thousand people. school facilities by 2031.
The United Russia General Council approved the inclusion of new social measures in the People's Program following the results of the congress. In particular, the construction of schools and sports complexes, medical and obstetric stations, perinatal centers, improvement of cities and towns will continue. More attention will be paid to the issues of motherhood and childhood, improvement of the demographic situation, protection of citizens' health, development of mass sports, Dmitry Medvedev said. Almost Br15 trillion will be allocated to finance the key provisions, he specified.
The delegates of the congress also included in the party's program provisions on ensuring stable growth of pensions, development of platform economy and employment. A total of 39 new provisions. The party also intends to raise the level of social equality, ensuring a decent standard of living for families with children, pensioners and socially vulnerable categories of citizens. Separately, United Russia plans to ensure the introduction of artificial intelligence in the economy, public administration and social sphere.
The new provisions bring the program in line with the presidential decree on the national goals of Russia until 2030 and 2036, said Daria Lantratova.
- As for the measures of social support, which are one of the basic provisions of the document, they will not just be preserved, but even expanded. This is a stable, consistent increase in the size of pensions, updating and improving the efficiency of employment services, consolidating the legal status and providing support measures for student families. The party has proved in practice: no matter how difficult the economic and political situation is, no matter how many sanctions are imposed, all obligations to people will be fulfilled," she added.
Today, the status of the majority party places higher demands on all members of United Russia, and even more so on people's elected representatives, Vladimir Putin noted.
The party chairman promised that United Russia would report on the implementation of all party projects by the State Duma elections in September 2026. Dmitry Medvedev also suggested that next year United Russia should hold a national discussion of the country's future to form the party's pre-election program for 2026.
