United Russia will hold a party congress in the second half of December at VDNH

United Russia plans to hold a one-day congress at the international exhibition and forum “Russia” at VDNKh in the second half of December, three sources in the party told Vedomosti. The exhibition opened on November 4 and will last until April 12, 2024. Vladimir Putin signed the decree on its organization on March 29.

One of the sources stressed that the convention would be held in one day to allow delegates from across the country to attend on the weekend. A one-day event allows you to save on accommodating party members in Moscow, the United Russia member points out: “In the context of a military special operation, we are trying to ensure that the congress is organized without frills.”

Another source added that this time there will be almost 2 times fewer participants in the congress than in previous years. Possible dates for the event include December 17. At the same time, one of the party members notes that much, including the final date of the congress, depends on the schedule of the upcoming 2024 election campaign – all political events in the near future are tied to it.

The Congress is the highest governing body of United Russia, and the decision to convene it is officially made at least one month before the date of the congress. According to the party charter, the competence of the congress includes resolving “all issues” of internal party life. These include adjusting program documents, carrying out personnel changes in governing bodies (the supreme and general council), once every five years – electing the party chairman, if necessary – nominating candidates for elections (this issue is not on the agenda of the congress), etc.

In 2022, United Russia did not hold a congress, which according to the charter should formally be held every year. The party believed that the geopolitical situation was not conducive to holding such events: in October 2022, the head of the central executive committee of the party, Alexander Sidyakin, said that the event “does not fit into the context of events.” On October 10, 2023, Sidyakin said that the congress could take place in the second half of December.

In fact, the current congress will be the first in two years. In 2021, when elections of State Duma deputies were held, United Russia held the congress in three stages. The first one was held on June 19, where the election lists of candidates were approved. The second took place on August 24, where the program was approved. The third took place on December 4, after the elections, where Dmitry Medvedev was reconfirmed as party chairman.

Putin was present at the first two stages of the congress. On December 4, he addressed United Russia members via video link. They are waiting for him to visit this time too. The date of the congress is actually final, but when organizing it, in any case, the president’s schedule will be taken into account, says one of Vedomosti’s interlocutors in United Russia. Vedomosti sent a request to presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

An interlocutor close to the party notes: one can hardly expect serious changes within the party from this congress, because its main task is to give impetus to those who support United Russia to join the campaign of the first person. It is possible that other political structures may declare their support for the main candidate in the same format.

A planned rotation of the party leadership is expected at the congress, said the head of the Civil Society Development Foundation, Konstantin Kostin: “It is still difficult to say how much this process will affect iconic figures. You shouldn’t expect drastic changes, but the final situation will become clear later.” But the congress will take place when the campaign has already started, the expert notes: “We can say that it will be largely ideological. And although the presidential campaign is expected to be plebiscitary, the role of the party in it must be defined.”

By the second half of December, presidential elections will already be announced. They must take place on March 17, 2024. The decision on their appointment is made no earlier than 100 and no later than 90 days before voting day. The Federation Council must announce the appointment of elections from December 8 to 18. According to the schedule of meetings of the Federation Council, the meeting of the upper house is traditionally scheduled for Wednesday, December 13. But according to the practice of past campaigns, it may take place on another day.

The congress can become part of the election campaign, says Rostislav Turovsky, vice-president of the Center for Political Technologies: “It is important for the party to emphasize its contribution to the campaign.” President of the St. Petersburg Politics Foundation Mikhail Vinogradov also agrees with him: “The key goal is to show one’s relevance.”