Putin’s Party Will Win, But the Cracks Are Showing

Russians vote for a new parliament this week. They already know the result. Vladimir Putin does not need elections to stay in power. But he needs them to look legitimate. This creates a problem. His solution is "managed democracy" — a system where ballots are held, but the outcome is controlled through fraud and repression. Russians will elect a new Duma, the lower house of parliament, later this week. They know in advance that United Russia, Putin's party, will win a majority. The Kremlin's clumsy efforts to control this election reveal growing anxiety. Behind the facade of confidence, there are signs of weakness — about the public mood and about a war that is failing.