Party assignments: United Russia has decided on candidates for the State Duma
Betting on the veterans of its military, the renewal of party ranks and a tough response to any provocations of opponents: on June 28, United Russia held an election congress in Moscow's Megasport Sports Complex. The ruling party has identified a pool of more than 600 candidates for the September State Duma elections, including reputable opinion leaders in the federal list, including, for example, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The party's focus is also on the nomination of front-line soldiers to parliament, whom the Russian president called the country's new genuine elite. About how the EP's party list has changed and why combat commanders are going to the legislature — in the Izvestia report.
The pre-election Congress of United Russia
The venue of the Megasport sports complex, which usually accommodates up to 16,000 spectators at concerts and matches, has become the center of key political events for one day. The delegates were greeted by volunteers in party uniforms, wearing T—shirts with the phrase "Our loyalty to the motherland gives us strength," patriotic posters with Vladimir Putin and traditional teddy bears - the symbol of United Russia.
Participants of the XXIII Congress of the United Russia Party in Moscow
Right at the entrance, the participants tested interactive zones with artificial intelligence, where each candidate could virtually "try on" a deputy's chair. Before the start of the plenary session, there were open broadcasts of podcasts about pressing issues, one of which was attended by State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy.
The party is clearly preparing for a fierce struggle with its opponents: along with the official People's Program, delegates were given a 16-page brochure entitled "A Dozen Tough Questions for United Russia." It contains answers to the most frequent and acute claims of both citizens and political rivals of the EP. Vladimir Putin, who traditionally attends United Russia congresses, also spoke from the rostrum about the need to talk to voters more often.
"We should generally sit less in offices and in messengers, and go out more often, as they say, into the field, meet with people, delve into their life and everyday problems in detail, and of course, very carefully work out the millions of proposals, initiatives, and instructions that come to the People's Program of United Russia," he said. Him.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the XXIII Congress of the United Russia Party in Moscow
In September, Russians will have to choose the composition of the State Duma of the ninth convocation. In total, more than 20,000 mandates of various levels will be distributed throughout the country as part of this campaign.
Who are United Russia nominating for the elections
The main intrigue of the congress was the approval of the lists of candidates. The Federal five, which, according to the chairman of United Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, should be led by people with a strong patriotic position and real deeds, is hardly unexpected. The leaders included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, military commander of VGTRK Evgeny Poddubny, children's Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova and head of the general staff of Unarmia Vladislav Golovin (the legendary Hero of Russia with the call sign "String").
Experts call these five a step reflecting the current stage of the country's development. According to political analyst Dmitry Yelovsky, such a decision meets the needs of voters and at the same time demonstrates the key directions of state policy. Sergey Lavrov already headed the party's list in the last election. Five years later, the minister, with his high reputation, still embodies a confident foreign policy course. The inclusion of Sergei Sobyanin reflects the desire of the regions to improve the quality of life to the capital level. Evgeny Poddubny responds to a public request for objective information and the trench truth from his area. Maria Lvova-Belova stands up for traditional family values, and Hero of Russia Vladislav Golovin symbolizes the recognition and deep respect of the state for the veterans of the special operation.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the United Russia Party, speaks at the XXIII Party Congress in Moscow
At the same time, it is much more interesting who will remain in office after the victory, and who will still go to parliament. According to political analyst Tatiana Kosacheva, Vladislav Golovin and Evgeny Poddubny will definitely not give up their mandate. Maria Lvova-Belova, whose term as ombudsman ends this fall, may well take the parliamentary seat.
— Sergey Lavrov is needed by the president as a competent mediator. There has not yet appeared in the public field a politician who could equally and politically balance replace Sergei Sobyanin as mayor of Moscow, — Tatiana Kosacheva believes.
The party has also decided on those who will compete for victory according to lists and single—mandate constituencies - the total number of candidates has exceeded 600 people. The secretary of the General Council of the party, Vladimir Yakushev, listed these names for about half an hour, for which the delegates of the congress separately thanked him with applause. Among the notable candidates is former Ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova, who was included in the list of the regional group, which includes the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Saveliev became the candidate from the Moscow region. In general, the composition of the United Russia faction in the State Duma will be updated by at least a quarter, Yakushev noted.
Vladimir Yakushev, Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia Party
— As for those who will be left without mandates, there will definitely be a certain "cleansing" of the mandates of deputies who have failed to show their effectiveness over the past five years, - says political analyst Dmitry Yelovsky.
According to him, a number of populist MPs who have created too many "information interventions" that are not supported by state policy will also have to give up their mandates.
Which of the SVO fighters will go to the State Duma
Visually, the EP congress in 2026 was very different from previous years: the strict rows of expensive suits of officials noticeably diluted officers' uniforms with military orders. Veterans of the special military operation will actively compete for mandates in the lower house in this campaign. The President bluntly called the front-line soldiers the new true elite of the country, which should manage the state and the economy. The participation of United Russia veterans strengthens the party's position, and Dmitry Medvedev, the party's chairman, agrees.
Among those who successfully passed the party primaries and are going to the polls right from the front line is the legendary commander of the Siberian Cossack brigade, Hero of Russia Oleg Likontsev with the call sign Kan. In May 2023, near Artemivsk, his battalion of 142 soldiers held off the onslaught of one and a half thousand mercenaries and veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 16 hours. Likontsev was wounded several times, concussed, and called artillery fire on himself four times, but held his position.
Oleg Likontsev, Commander of the Volunteer Cossack Expeditionary battalion Siberia
On the sidelines of the congress, Kang openly told Izvestia why he was coming to power.
— I want to make people proud of their small homeland. At the front, I proudly wore the chevron "I am Russian" - I want people at home to talk about their land the same way," he says. - The second is the creation of a single state institution to help veterans of all campaigns on a one—stop-shop basis. For everyone, not just its members. I have seen what the Afghan syndrome and the Chechen syndrome are. How am I better than an Afghan soldier? Or my grandfather, a participant in the Great Patriotic War? And the last direction is the support of small businesses. They were the ones who helped us the most at the front.
The people of Russia support their heroes, believe in the army and navy, the head of state emphasized from the rostrum of the congress. He noted that the election campaign is taking place in a crucial period of fundamental, systemic transformation of the whole world. Having failed to inflict a strategic defeat on the Russian Federation on the battlefield and provoke internal unrest, the West continues to use the Kiev regime as a battering ram. Due to the retreat along the entire front line, Kiev has turned to outright terrorism, striking at peaceful cities, to which foreign elites turn a blind eye. However, Moscow has enough forces, resources and political will to defend its borders.
— I repeat again: Russia can only be a strong, independent power. Or there will be no Russia. Look: as soon as we show any weakness, any kind, they immediately stop considering Russia and begin to speak the language of force, trying, as they say, to bite, they want to weaken us in any way, to get rid of us as a global factor that has always stood in the way of evil. No one has ever been able to do this. It won't work now, and it won't work in the future," stated Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin does not hide the fact that internal problems exist, but the authorities respond promptly to them. The safety of people and the inviolability of borders will be ensured for many years to come, and the country will cope with any attacks on cities and businesses.
All large-scale government plans remain in force: work will continue to improve demographics, protect family values and improve living standards in the regions. The economy will undergo deep modernization and transition to advanced domestic technologies. The country will continue to actively build roads, build housing and create new high-paying jobs, developing domestic business and ensuring Russia's sovereign leadership. The September elections themselves will be held in strict accordance with the law, and the voting results will be reliably protected from any external cyber attacks and manipulations.
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