The Kremlin says United Russia can call itself ‘the president's party’ in areas where it's least loved

The Kremlin will reportedly allow United Russia to call itself “the president’s party” in campaign ads ahead of elections on September 9 in certain regions across the country where the party is struggling to maintain voters’ support. Sources told the magazine RBC that the slogan will appear on promotional materials in the Irkutsk and Vladimir regions, as well as in Yekaterinburg.

United Russia might play its presidential trump card in Arkhangelsk and Ulyanovsk, as well, but it apparently hasn’t yet committed to this approach in these cities. Party officials refused to comment on the rumors.

On September 9, eighty regions across Russia will hold local elections, voting for mayors, legislative assembly deputies, and city council members. Seven regions will also stage special elections for vacant seats in the State Duma.

According to the state-owned pollster VTSiOM, nationwide support for United Russia has dropped 13 percent since early July, falling to 35.3 percent. In Russia’s 2016 parliamentary elections, the party used 12 quotes from Vladimir Putin in billboard advertisements.