Russian Voters Seek Peace, Better Services Ahead of Duma Elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Peace, better public services and improved living standards are emerging among the priorities voiced by Russian voters as the country prepares for parliamentary elections next month, with 11 political parties competing for seats in the ninth State Duma.

Voting is scheduled for Sept. 18-20, with 3,106 candidates contesting 450 seats. Half of the chamber will be elected through party lists and the remaining 225 seats through individual constituency races.

Reporting from Moscow, Kurdistan24 Moscow Bureau Chief Khoshawi Mohammed spoke with voters whose expectations ranged from demands for greater attention to health and education to skepticism over whether the election would produce meaningful political change.

For Tatyana Musatova, peace comes first.

"Above all else, there must be peace," she told Kurdistan24, while also calling for greater public access to sports facilities and public spaces. "When people are healthy, their work and lives improve as well."

Her comments come as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to shape both the country's politics and the broader environment surrounding the parliamentary campaign.

Irina, a teacher, said the next parliament should devote greater attention to public-sector workers, particularly those in education and health care.

"It is crucial to give more attention to public sector employees, especially in the education and health sectors, as they are vital for every Russian individual," she told Kurdistan24.

She also pointed to disparities between Moscow and other parts of the country, saying she hoped Russia's regions could achieve levels of development closer to those enjoyed by the capital.

Not all voters expect the election to bring substantial change.

Asia, a university student interviewed by Kurdistan24, said she remained doubtful about the political outcome but hoped citizens would cast their ballots according to their convictions.

"I don't expect anything new," she said. "It will likely end like the previous elections, with results that favor those in power. However, I still hold onto the hope that people will vote according to their own conscience."

The contrasting views reflect the combination of domestic and geopolitical questions confronting voters as parties seek support ahead of the three-day ballot.

United Russia remains ahead according to opinion polling cited in Kurdistan24's Moscow reporting, while the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), the Communist Party and New People are competing for second place.

Pavel Danilin, Director of the Center for Political Analysis, told Kurdistan24 that the competition among those parties could increasingly favor New People.

He described the LDPR, Communists and New People as parties broadly supportive of President Vladimir Putin's initiatives but said they emphasize different issues. The LDPR supports Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, while the Communist Party places greater emphasis on social policy.

Danilin argued that the more established opposition parties face difficulties generating new political proposals, potentially creating an opening for New People.

"Their primary challenge, however, is that they are deeply entrenched in the status quo without offering fresh proposals," he said of the LDPR and Communists. "Consequently, the New People party is gradually gaining popularity."

He added that the absence of highly charismatic leaders in the LDPR and Communist Party could give New People an opportunity to emerge in second place.

Larisa Pauteva, Director of the Public Opinion Foundation, said the campaign would depend on how successfully parties respond to attitudes already present across Russian society.

Political factions are seeking to connect with voters on subjects ranging from geopolitics and the war to domestic affairs, patriotism, ideology and family values, she told Kurdistan24.

"Whichever side succeeds in these areas will win the majority," Pauteva said.

With less than a month before voting begins, the campaign is therefore unfolding on two interconnected levels: Russia's wider geopolitical position and the everyday concerns of citizens seeking better schools, health services, public spaces and economic conditions.

For the voters interviewed by Kurdistan24, however, the measure of the next parliament may ultimately be less abstract, whether it can translate political promises into improvements they can see in their daily lives.

Kurdistan24 Moscow Bureau Chief Khoshawi Mohammed contributed to this report and conducted the interviews.