A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin recently informed Russian state media that the Russian President has yet to decide whether he will seek a fifth term in the upcoming election.
According to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, stated, “The president has not yet announced that he will run for office.” According to specialists, however, there is little doubt that Putin intends to run for reelection.
Putin’s Presidential Plans
Simon Miles, an assistant professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, a Soviet Union historian, and an authority on US-Soviet relations, stated, “He will certainly run again. This is classic Putin – the ‘will he, won’t he’ gambit – to circumvent the fact that he will run and win.”
Putin has maintained a firm hold on the presidency of Russia for over two decades. He first assumed office in 2000, following the resignation of Boris Yeltsin.
Putin had to step down due to term limits after protests that were two consecutive four-year mandates. Still, many observers believed he retained significant executive power as prime minister from 2008 to 2012.
Putin’s return to the presidency in 2012 sparked protests promptly quelled by the government. Then, in 2021, Putin enacted legislation allowing him to run for President twice more during his lifetime, potentially extending his rule until 2036.
Recent remarks by Peskov hint at the Kremlin’s strategy for maintaining control. According to him, if Putin decides to run in the upcoming spring election, he will face no significant opposition.
This statement echoes the Kremlin’s view that Putin’s victory is a foregone conclusion and that elections are solely a formality.
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The Kremlin’s Election Manipulation: Putin’s Victory Deemed ‘Obvious
In addition, Peskov’s recent comments follow his suggestion that Russia may not even need to conduct elections next year because it is “obvious” Putin will win with more than 90 percent of the vote.
This demonstrates the Kremlin’s ability to manipulate the political environment to ensure Putin’s continued rule.
Most of Putin’s legitimate political opponents who dared to challenge his authority are imprisoned, serving extensive sentences, or have passed away.
The prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny languishes in prison, serving a severe punishment.
Another opposition figure, Boris Nemtsov, was tragically murdered in 2015. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former ally of Vladimir Putin who is now an enemy, attempted a coup in June but failed.
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