MOSCOW, December 17, Renat Abdullin. In The XXI Congress of United Russia took place in Moscow. It was the first for the party since the beginning of the Northern Military District. And — especially important in connection with the upcoming presidential elections. United Russia had to resolve internal party issues and declare support for the current head of state. Earlier, Vladimir Putin announced his intention to run as a self-nominated candidate. But he also arrived at the event on December 17. About the main things from the congress — in the material .
Start shipping the cargo Last year, EP did not conduct a “general collection”. In the conditions of a special military operation, they decided that the priorities were different. Today, three months before the presidential election, the tradition of congresses has returned.
Before the main event, the party organized several discussion platforms with the participation of representatives of the regions: “I am proud of Russia” (November 28, Rostov region), “I believe in Russia” (December 5, Nizhny Novgorod), as well as “The Future of Russia” (December 13, Moscow) . The United Russia congress in the capital was intended to be a summing up of the results of all three events. The venue chosen for it was the exhibition-forum “Russia” at VDNKh. The choice is not random. As explained by the secretary of the general council of the party, Andrei Turchak, the exhibition contains both what our country is proud of and what it strives for.
The event started at noon. As United Russia Chairman Dmitry Medvedev explained, with a slight departure from the proven scheme. At the beginning of the congress, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Anna Kuznetsova took the floor. She recalled that today, December 17, the dispatch of humanitarian cargo to new regions of the country starts simultaneously from all corners of Russia. Kuznetsova also clarified that the party has already sent more than 80 tons of humanitarian aid in this direction since the beginning of the Northern Military District.
“We daily monitor the needs experienced by the residents of new territories that our fighters have on the front line, we travel to new regions, communicate with residents. Today, the cargo is formed precisely with an orientation toward the needs that residents of new territories have today. includes household appliances, groceries, medicines,” she said. The speech was accompanied by video from Russian cities sending the convoys. “I ask you to begin sending the cargo,” Medvedev announced. Then the congress participants began discussing other issues. In addition, they actively communicated with journalists who arrived at VDNH.
Unanimous decision: Meetings of the United Russia's highest governing bodies were held. Based on their results, a plenary meeting opened in accordance with the approved agenda and regulations. After the introduction from Dmitry Medvedev, the floor was given to other participants of the event. The first speaker was Viktor Kulay, a member of the Monchegorsk Council of Deputies. He recalled the devastation of the 1990s and the fact that it was Vladimir Putin’s rise to power that saved the country. Afterwards, the secretary of the Lugansk branch of United Russia, Chairman of the People's Council of the LPR, Denis Miroshnichenko, took the floor. He recalled the difficult fate of his region and the long wait for reunification with Russia. “The President is not just a person,” he said. “This is the whole Motherland. This is the highest example of a politician. This is the aerobatics of a leader. It is with such a leader that we will win.”
The theme of the difficulties of the 1990s was continued in the speeches of other speakers. They all agreed that the way out of the general crisis was thanks to Putin. This affected the economy, interethnic relations, family policy, and youth creativity. Much has been said about the restoration of the regions that became part of our country last year. “Putin’s victory is a victory for all of Russia,” summed up chess player Sergei Karyakin.
Dmitry Medvedev, returning to the podium, recalled that the implementation of the president’s tasks is the main thing in the party’s work: “Unlike them (other parties — editor’s note), we have real opportunities and experience to really achieve our goals. Don’t tire people with loud slogans, but to report with deeds.»
The United Russia chairman also recalled the change that has occurred in the world order since the previous party congress. “During the North Military District, just like 80 years ago, during the Great Patriotic War, we are fighting a dangerous, cynical and cruel enemy. For whom the norms of international law, the moral foundations of human society, the principles of good neighborliness are an empty phrase,” Medvedev noted. <…> For many centuries, no one has been able to subjugate us to their will. It won’t work now either.”
Concluding his speech, Medvedev put the question of nominating Putin to a vote. The decision was made unanimously. And — to thunderous applause.
Historical tasks One of the main events of the congress was, of course, Putin’s speech. Even when he announced his intention to run last week, press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced the president’s participation in the United Russia congress. Then the Kremlin speaker, however, did not specify whether Putin would run in the elections as a member of the party or as a self-nominated candidate. Then it became known that the head of state preferred the second option. Already on December 16, a meeting of a group of voters to nominate a president for the 2024 elections took place. The participants (who numbered 700 people, 200 more than the required number) unanimously approved the candidacy. United Russia, in turn, also immediately made it clear that they would fully support Putin.
The President arrived at the Russia exhibition (which he had previously visited) in advance to get acquainted with the regional stands. And after Medvedev’s speech, he went to the podium of the plenary session.
Putin noted the importance of supporting United Russia. “We have before us, without any exaggeration, historical tasks” that require the unification of all patriotic forces, he recalled.
“Russia cannot, like some countries, give up its sovereignty in exchange for sausage and become someone’s satellite,” the Russian leader said. Without the independence of the country, he is sure, the state itself simply cannot exist.
The Western elites hoped to bring down the Russian economy, political and social systems, but their plans did not work and will not work. “Our society, all branches of government have shown maturity and stability. We have been moving towards sovereignty year after year. The people in Russia have been and will be the only source of power,” Putin recalled. “Time demands firmness from us,” he noted. “I look forward to working together with you in the interests of our people.”
Who's next After the president's speech, United Russia proceeded to the second item on the agenda — discussing changes made to the party charter. As Andrey Turchak noted, some of them are related to the need to bring the document into compliance with legal norms. In particular, the number of members of the General Council was increased by adding new regions.
Chairman of the Supreme Council of United Russia Boris Gryzlov spoke on the following issue — personnel rotation, that is, the replacement of some members of party bodies. The same procedure was done for the General Council and the Central Control Commission.
UR became the first party to hold a congress before the 2024 presidential elections. Already on December 19, a similar event will be organized by the LDPR. A Just Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation have scheduled congresses for December 23, and the New People will gather the next day. It is still unclear who exactly from the parties will take part in the presidential campaign.