United Russia during the Rule of Putin-Medvedev Tandem: No move Forward

United Russia suffered strong loss in support in parliamentary elections in 2011. This result means that party holds 238 seats of 450, slight majority instead of previous constitutional majority. It is the worst result in party’s history if predecessors are not taken into account. Since 2008, United Russia has been chaired by Vladimir Putin, former president, current prime minister, high-ranking candidate for next president and most popular politician in Russia. This paper argues that Putin’s chairmanship has not brought changes of United Russia position. This status quo is due to ambiguous relations between Putin and United Russia. Putin’s engagement in party life and party affairs has been very weak what can be demonstrated by the fact that although he was elected chairmen of the party, he has not become its member. His stand-offish attitude to party is also obvious after parliamentary elections in 2011. Putin does not need this party, but United Russia needs Putin. When Putin was president, United Russia relied on affiliation with popular politician instead of coherent program building. United Russia is lacking capacity for problems solution what is demonstrated on example of economic crisis. Instead of own solution proposal, party only organized manifestations on support of ruling tandem. Party should also help to realize change in positions between Putin and Medvedev. United Russia is steadily perceived as party full of bureaucrats and opponents are trying to portray it as party of thieves. United Russia is an example of party of power. Parties of power are created from above by state officials around president. Their task is to take part in elections and win good result enabling president to push his bills through State Duma. Party of power help to executive branch, but it does not make government. From this perspective, persistence in party position is not surprising.