Internal Crisis Within the United Russia Party
Just three months ahead of the parliamentary elections, the United Russia party is grappling with an internal crisis. Its leadership has yet to finalize key directives or the definitive candidate lists. This paralysis is driven primarily by the pervasive instability across the Russian Federation. The campaign team plans to unveil the election platform by late August, while the final candidate roster is not expected before the party congress scheduled for June 28.
Struggle Over Candidate Selections
Currently, a fierce battle is underway over the composition of the federal segment of the candidate list. Party chairman Dmitry Medvedev is pushing for a top-three lineup that would include himself, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, and propagandist Yevgeny Poddubny. Meanwhile, the Russian Presidential Administration is considering a broader top-five list that might exclude Medvedev entirely. Potential alternatives for the list include Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, or Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov—though Lavrov has categorically refused to participate in the elections.
Following the party's internal primaries, the top spots were secured by 47 veterans of the so-called special military operation. An additional 10 to 15 military personnel are slated for inclusion in the winnable lists for the State Duma. Furthermore, the Kremlin has decided to add widows of fallen heroes to the roster, with a mandate potentially offered to the widow of officer Naran Ochir-Goryaev, who was killed in early June.
Overall, the situation within United Russia is causing concern. A high-ranking party insider remarked:
“No one—neither in our party, nor in the Kremlin, nor in the government—truly knows what will happen next month or next week regarding the war, the economy… Now gasoline has become an added issue.”
This underscores how instability is affecting not only domestic politics but also the country's economic conditions.
Notably, the State Duma has passed a law prohibiting the deportation of foreign nationals who have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense and participated in combat operations. In a related development, Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, called for massive strikes on Kyiv, Boryspil Airport, and railway bridges across the Dnipro River. These statements highlight regional tensions and the impact of foreign policy on the party's internal matters.
The situation within United Russia points to serious challenges the party faces amid growing political and economic uncertainty in the country. The lack of a clear strategy and delays in finalizing candidate lists could affect the upcoming election results and the broader stability of the political landscape. At the same time, the intensification of military themes in domestic politics reflects the Kremlin's efforts to bolster support through patriotic narratives, which may have long-term consequences for Russian society.
The challenges facing the United Russia party are compounded by increasing pressure on the Kremlin regarding its military actions. As the situation evolves, the government is being pushed to explore potential avenues for a resolution. To understand the implications of this internal strife and its impact on the broader political landscape, read more about the growing pressures on Putin.