Sixteen of Russia’s political parties are now cleared to run in the 2021 State Duma Elections

Sixteen of Russia’s political parties are now able to participate in the 2021 State Duma elections without collecting endorsement signatures, announced Central Election Commissioner Ella Pamfilova during a press conference (broadcast on Youtube) on the results of the local elections that took place over the weekend.

“Thirteen parties already had the right to participate in the parliamentary elections without collecting signatures. Now their number has grown to 16 political parties,” Pamfilova said. 

According to the Central Election Commissioner, the three “new” additions to the list — the parties New People, Green Alternative and For Truth — all managed to overcome the five-percent barrier in at least one region during the elections.

From September 11–13, regional parliamentary elections took place in 11 of Russia’s regions. Nine parties broke the five-percent barrier in different regions: United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), A Just Russia, the Party of Pensioners for Social Justice, New People, Green Alternative, Rodina (Motherland), and For Truth. 

Eighteen regions also elected “new” heads over the weekend. In all cases, either the incumbent governor or a candidate who had previously served as acting regional leader won the vote.