Putin’s party leads in parliamentary polls

The ruling United Russia party is expected to retain its absolute majority and perhaps increase its dominance in Russia’s lower house, State Duma, in the parliamentary election Sunday. United Russia, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a loyalist of President Vladimir Putting, has 238 of 450 Duma seats and dominates the more than 80 regional […]

The ruling United Russia party is expected to retain its absolute majority and perhaps increase its dominance in Russia’s lower house, State Duma, in the parliamentary election Sunday.
United Russia, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a loyalist of President Vladimir Putting, has 238 of 450 Duma seats and dominates the more than 80 regional parliaments.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) sent over 400 observers to Russia to monitor the election, more than double compared to 2011 when the OSCE sent 215 to monitor the parliamentary poll.
Analysts say the voting will likely be a referendum on Putin’s expected 2018 presidential run for re-election.
Putin and United Russia are riding a wave of nationalist support over Crimea and ongoing military actions, with state-run media ignoring critics or branding them as traitors.