United Russia (Russian: Еди́ная Росси́я, Yedínaya Rossíya) is a centrist political party in Russia and the largest party in the country, currently holding 238 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party was founded in December 2001, through a merger of the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia parties. Ideologically, it self-identifies as a "Russian conservative" party, and it supports the policies of the current presidential administration. The party's association with President and former Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is former party leader and current General Secretary of the United Russia, has been the key to its success, and there is also evidence that the electorate credits the party (in addition to Putin) for improvements in the economy. Although the party's popularity has declined from its peak of 64.4% in the 2007 Duma elections to 49.32% in the 2011 elections, it remains by far the most popular party in the country, ahead of the Communist Party (at 19.19%). Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's current prime minister and former president, has been the leader of United Russia since 26 May 2012 and of United Russia in the State Duma since 24 September 2011.
Read more about United Russia: Party Platform, Structure, Leaders, Allegations of Corruption
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“A sincere and steadfast co-operation in promoting such a reconstruction of our political system as would provide for the permanent liberty and happiness of the United States.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)
“A fool may be a dangerous customer, but the fact of his having such a vulnerable top-end turns danger into a first-rate sport; and whatever defects the old administration in Russia had, it must be conceded that it possessed one outstanding virtue—a lack of brains.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)