Putin on election results: People choose stability and trust

The governing United Russia party has shown a “good result” in Sunday’s parliamentary election that saw its lead hover at more than 54 percent, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 19.

With over 95 percent of the votes counted, the governing United Russia is leading with 54.19 percent of the votes, or 140 mandates, added to 203 single-constituency candidates from the party.

“First of all, I want to thank the citizens who came to the polls and expressed their attitude to the events happening here… For a ruling political force, a leading political force, the result is good for United Russia,” Putin said ahead of convening a cabinet meeting.

People choose stability and trust in government by voting for the governing United Russia party in the face of risks and difficulties, Putin said.

“In the face of difficulties, a large number of uncertainties, risks, and people definitely choose so-called stability and trust in the leading political force, trust the government that relies on United Russia in parliament, trust that we will act professionally and in the benefit of citizens,” Putin said. “In domestic policy, we certainly have to listen and hear all the political forces, including those that did not pass into parliament. We must and will develop a multi-party system in Russia, support civil society, including patriotically-oriented and non-governmental organizations,” Putin said.