Party of Pensioners announced preparations for the Duma campaign
The Russian Party of Pensioners for Social Justice (RPPSS) expects to receive at least 5% of votes in the elections to the State Duma in 2026 and first get into the federal parliament. “Pensioners” are sure that they have the capabilities and even “moral right” to take a place in the lower ward, the new party chairman Eric of the holidays told a press conference on June 4. True, the expert doubts this.
The RPPS was established in November 1997 and was originally called just a party of pensioners. In 2006, it united with the Russian Party of Life and the Homeland, forming “Fair Russia”, but six years later she left the Alliance. The organization received its modern name in 2017. At different times, it was headed by politicians Sergey Atroshenko, Valery Martung, Igor Zotov, Evgeny Artyukh and Vladimir Burakov. In 2025, after the death of Mr. Burakov, the surgeon Eric holidays became the new chairman.
At his first press conference, as the leader of the “pensioners”, the gentleman of the holidays decided to identify strategic tasks and reveal the updated program of the organization adopted at the congress on May 17. At the forefront, he put the expansion of the representative office – from the municipal to the federal. According to Mr. Fasting, the party has a “moral right to be in parliament” and build a direct dialogue with society, and not “engage in populism”.
Deputy Chairman Vladimir Vorozhtsov added that the party’s program is called “Eleven steps towards the future of Russia”, and its main goal is to achieve the cohesion of Russian society.
He emphasized that the party of pensioners is actually a party of “all ages”, as he draws attention to the problems of many social groups.
Answering the question why, in this case, the RPPSU will not change the name, Mr. Vorozhtsov admitted that this idea « is actively discussed for a long time. » According to him, since 2017, the organization has been positioning itself as a “party of dynamic conservatives”, but such a name does not fit into the “Russian historical tradition”. In addition, there was an idea to be called a “party of veterans”, but in the end, the RPPSS stopped at the name with the “27-year history”.
In preparation for the elections to the State Duma, “pensioners” will be engaged in strengthening the regional departments, replenishing the personnel reserve and training activists, which will allow them to receive at least 5% of the vote in 2026, said the head of the Central Executive Committee of the party Valery Egorov: “We have reason to believe that this indicator has already been reached, given the results of regional elections over the past five years.” According to him, “respected and proven” people will be selected as candidates to the lower house of parliament, but the party party refused to disclose their names.
According to the March measurements of VTsIOM, the Party of Pensioners has a rating of about 3%. This is a level that, following the results of the State Duma elections, can bring her state funding. True, on the eve of the vote in the 2021st RPPSS rating was higher-3.6%, and it finished only with 2.45% (see schedule).
“Pensioners” will not gain more than 3% “under any circumstances,” political scientist Konstantin Kalachev believes: “Partyers will probably succeed, but even 3% cannot be taken without a struggle, and it is necessary to fight not with the Communist Party, but with the party in power. It is unlikely that they will go to this. ” The brand has a rich history, but now the RPPS has “signs of a spoiler”, the political scientist adds: “Do spoilers are needed now is an open question.”
