Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (L) and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) speak to their supporters in the United Russia ruling party's campaign staff in Moscow, on December 4, 2011. Putin's ruling party suffered a surprise drop in support in legislative elections seen as a test of the Russian strongman's popularity ahead of his planned return to the Kremlin. [Xinhua/AFP]

Victory gives more change to Putin

According to Medvedev, to vote for United Russia was to vote for Putin, as the Duma election would influence next year's presidential election.

Analysts said United Russia's victory showed that at present no party would cause a real threat to the ruling party in elections. Such a wide gap in strength could give a strong push to Putin's bid for presidency.

They noted that one of United Russia's slogans -- "Future Belongs to Us" -- showed the party's self-confidence based on its real strength, with more than 2 million party members, including over 2,000 legislators at different levels of the country's legislative bodies.

After the CEC announced election results, United Russia's General Council Presidium Secretary Sergei Neverov said the ruling party's absolute majority in the State Duma would help the party better support the president and the prime minister.

However, analysts also warned that the waning support for Untied Russia would shadow Putin's presidential bid.

"Putin and his advisors could feel people's feelings even before the Duma election, which is rather uncomfortable for the authorities compared with the 2007 elections," Bunin said.

However, when forecasting the 2012 presidential election, all analysts believed Putin would be elected without any doubt.

Yuri Tavrovsky, a professor at the Moscow Friendship University, told Xinhua that all opposition forces understand the power of Putin and United Russia.

"They participated in the Duma and presidential elections only for self-promotion and increasing of their influence," Tavrovsky said.