Russian Political Parties

This article discusses political parties in Russia.

The Russian Federation has a ''de jure'' multi-party system, however it operates as a near ''de facto'' one-party system. six parties have members in the federal parliament, the State Duma, with one dominant party (United Russia).

History

200px, Certificate of state registration of political parties in Russia, issued by the Ministry of Justice of Russia
After the Perestroika reforms in the 1980s Russia had over 100 registered parties, but the people elected to the State Duma represented only a small number of parties. After 2000, during Vladimir Putin's first presidency (2000–2008), the number of parties quickly decreased. From 2008 to 2012 there were only seven parties in Russia, and every new attempt to register new, independent parties was blocked. The last-registered party of this period was the government-organized Right Cause (now the Party of Growth) which was registered on 18 February 2009. Before the 2011 parliamentary election, about 10 opposition parties were denied registration. However, after a series of mass protests and a 2011 European Court decision on the case of the Republican Party of Russia (now the People's Freedom Party), the law changed and the number of registered parties quickly increased to more than 48 .

Party of power

A "party of power" refers to a political party that has a close relationship with the executive branch of government such that the party appears to function as an extension of the executive rather than as an autonomous political organization. The concept resembles that of a cartel party. These parties were specially established for support of the incumbent president or prime minister in the Russian parliament:
* Inter-regional Deputies Group/Democratic Russia (1990–1993, Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union/ Congress of People's Deputies of Russia/ Supreme Soviet of Russia)
* Democratic Choice of Russia (1993–1994)
*Our Home – Russia (1995–1999)
*Unity (1999–2001/2003)
*A Just Russia - For Truth (the second "party of power", supporting Vladimir Putin and opposing United Russia)
*United Russia (2001–present)

Social composition of voters

According to studies, United Russia voters in 2007 were younger and more market-oriented than the average voter. The party's electorate includes a substantial share of government employees, pensioners and military personnel, who are dependent on the state for their livelihood. Sixty-four percent of United Russia supporters are female. According to researchers, this could be because women place a great value on stability. In the run-up to the 2011 Duma elections, it was reported that support for United Russia was growing among young people.Yevgeny Utkin
Seven parties, one virtually certain outcome
Russia Beyond the Headlines. (2011-11-23)

Current parties

All parties registered by the Ministry of Justice have the right to participate in any elections all over the country. The list is placed on the Justice Ministry website. In December 2012, there were 48 registered parties in Russia; 6 of them are currently represented in the State Duma as of 2021.

Parties represented in the

State Duma and the Federation Council

Parties represented in the regional parliaments

Parties represented in Occupied/Separatist Regions

List of registered parties

Historical parties (1992–present)

Far-left

Left-wing

Centre-left

Centrist

Centre-right

Right-wing

Far-right

Syncretic

Regionalist parties

Soviet parties, 1917–1992

CPSU and factions

Clandestine and illegal parties

Parties of the multi-party period

Parties of the Russian Empire, 1721–1917

Pre-revolutionary organizations

After-revolutionary parties

Left-wing

Centrist and moderate right

Right-wing

See also

* List of ruling political parties by country
* Politics of Russia

References

Further reading

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External links

Justice Ministry webpage about Russian political parties

Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation webpage about Russian political parties

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