Leader at the congress

President Vladimir Putin will take part in the December Congress of United Russia-it is necessary to support the party due to a decrease in its ratings. The head of state for the first time since 2012 will visit the congress that is not timed to the election. RBC, citing his sources, reports that Putin will come to the event on the second day of the congress, December 8. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov did not deny the possibility of president’s participation in the congress.

Typically, Vladimir Putin, one way or another, participates in the party’s election congresses, the president visited the president for the last time in May 2012, when Dmitry Medvedev was elected the party leader. In 2013, Putin did not attend the congress, but only met with a party asset the day before him. In 2014 and 2015, United Russia did not hold congresses. In January 2017, Medvedev was elected chairman for the second time, Putin did not come to this congress either.

Vladimir Putin and D. Medvedev at the Congress of the United Russia party / kremlin.ru

But the president participated in the congress in June 2016, in front of the Duma campaign, and in December 2017, when preparations for the presidential election were underway. Then the party announced the support of the head of state, although Putin then went to the elections as a self -nominated person.

At the December Congress, a planned planned rotation of the highest and general councils should take place, and the discussion should also be summed up on the renewal of the party, which was declared in the regions.

But the participation of Vladimir Putin in the congress is hardly explained by his desire to express about the composition of the General Council of the party. Recently, EP has noticeably decreased the level of support and trust rating - first of all, apparently, this is due to the increase in the age of retirement and the fact that EP supported this decision. Also, the participation of Vladimir Putin can become a sign of support for the Secretary of the General Council of United Russia Andrei Turchak, he took his post a little over a year ago.

Vladimir Putin at a meeting with A. Tourchak / kremlin.ru

“In the electoral sense, the arrival of the President itself will not give a party-it is in such a position that you will not help the case with the visit of the founding father. The rating of United Russia will grow, but slowly, ”says one of the sources of RBC in the Kremlin.

On June 10, 2018, four days before the pension reform was announced, VTsIOM estimated the rating of United Russia at 47.8%. Immediately after the announcement of the upcoming increase in retirement age, the ratings began to fall, the lower point was recorded on September 30 - 34.5%. As of November 11, the party of the Party of power was 36.7%. Very similar numbers are given by Thomas polls. On June 10, 45% of citizens were ready to vote for United Russia, and 31% on September 30. On November 4, the electoral rating increased slightly, to 35%.

The most noticeable result of the fall in ratings is the results of regional elections. In three regions, the Vladimir region, Khakassia and the Khabarovsk Territory, candidates from the EP were unable to win the governor's elections. In the regional parliamentary elections, the result of the EP was worse than 5 years ago in 14 of 16 regions, and the fall was from 2 to 25%.

The distribution of newspapers by activists EP / AGN "Moscow" / Photo: Nikirichev Andrey

Note that for December, the traditional large press conference of Vladimir Putin is also scheduled. This was reported by TASS by Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov. The format of the event will remain familiar.

But the President’s message to the Federal Assembly, most likely, will no longer be announced this year - most likely it will be prepared next year. The last time Putin turned to parliament, recall, on March 1, a little more than two weeks before the presidential election in which he won the first round.