Putin addresses ninth Duma Priorities and commitments

Sep 30

In TASS's released recording of his September 30 address to the ninth Duma's first sitting, Vladimir Putin describes deputies' responsibility to voters and says the chamber is almost half renewed. He marks four years since Russia claimed Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as its regions, calls the referendums lawful under international law, praises war participants and civilian reconstruction workers, and welcomes deputies from those territories. He urges defence and victory efforts and better support for servicemen and their families. He calls for a balanced three-year budget, full social and national-programme commitments, family and housing support, regional fiscal stability and a new investment cycle. Recalling his Eastern Economic Forum proposal, he says the unified Far East–Arctic preferential business regime should operate from January 1, 2027. He endorses constructive debate and legislative quality, rejects populism and dependence on foreign handouts, and asserts that Russia's finances and economy are sound. He urges removal of outdated barriers to enterprise and research and forward-looking laws supporting technological leadership. He calls for contact with constituents, interprets the election as national unity and asks United Russia to respect other factions and seek consolidated support for key decisions. Volodin thanks him. Territorial legality, electoral motives and economic strength remain Putin's claims; policy instructions and the proposed regime deadline do not establish enacted laws or completed implementation.

Putin tells the new Duma on September 30 that its three-year federal budget must be balanced and realistic and exclude destructive populism. After outlining defence and military-family-support priorities, he calls for macroeconomic stability, funding of national projects and federal programmes, full social obligations, demographic and housing support for families, regional fiscal stability and a new investment cycle. He says errors are especially unacceptable now, rejects dependence on foreign handouts and asserts that Russia's financial system and economy are sound. These are his legislative instructions and economic assessment, not adoption of the budget; Cabinet approval, submission to the Duma and later committee review retain separate occurrence identities.