March 15, 2024 Today at 12:31
In Russia, everything has been designed so that Vladimir Putin emerges from the elections with a fifth term as president, which would see him hold the Kremlin at least until 2030.
Polling stations opened this Friday in Russia, for a presidential election with expected results without surprises. The equation is simple. There is Putin and three puppets. Who is left at the end?
Since the end of 1999, Vladimir Putin has reigned over Russia. In a quarter of a century, he served four terms as president and one as prime minister. In 2020, he changed the Constitution to stay in the Kremlin until 2036. He is currently 71 years old; he would then have 83.
Three other candidates have received permission to run.
Opponents who attempted to apply were rejected by the electoral commission.
Who are the candidates in the Russian election?
Nikolai Kharitonov75 ans, member of the communist party, is in reality a supporter of the Kremlin. This veteran of Russian politics, a member of the Duma since 1993, had already been a candidate once morest Putin in 2004.
Leonid Sloutsky56 years old, is the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, a nationalist and conservative formation. He defends entrepreneurship and clearly supports the president’s policies, particularly in his war in Ukraine.
Vladislav Davankovof New People party, campaigns for businesses and the modernization of the economy. He remains more vague on his positions in relation to Putin and the invasion of Ukraine, without opposing it.
In short, where are the real opponents? Discarded. Those who attempted to apply were rejected by the electoral commission. As Boris Nadejdinea former MP, or Ekaterina Dountsova, a journalist. Both openly opposed the war.
The most virulent opponent of the Putin regime was Alexei Navalnywho died in February while languishing in an Arctic prison.
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How long will Putin be president?
This presidential election is taking place until Sunday evening. Results will be announced promptly following close of business. They will choose the winner, who will be invested in May, for a mandate of six years, until 2030.
Putin is sure to win because he benefits fromhigh popularity in his country, having brought Russia back to the forefront of the international scene following the decline of the USSR. He has no real opponent on the lists.
THE OSCE observers will not be able to verify that these elections remain consistent with international standards; they were not invited by Moscow.
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What is Putin’s agenda?
The president did not deepen his program, since he did not did not participate in electoral debates.
But during his speech to the nation at the end of February, he announced a mega investment program reminiscent of the Soviet Union’s five-year plans. Billions of rubles, a modernization of the country, an incentive to have children, the fight once morest poverty, an upgrading of professional and technical education…
He remains resolved to continue its war in Ukrainewith an entire economy that must support this design: manufacturing of military equipment, development of Asian markets to sell Russian oil, etc.
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Who will vote?
There is some 114 million potential voters, in Russia, abroad and in the annexed territories of Ukraine. It is estimated thatbetween 70 and 80 million people votehave. An online and remote voting system is offered in addition to the offices.
Yulia Navalnaïa, wife of Navalny, recalled that her husband proposed that voters go to the offices this Sunday at noon, to vote once morest Putin. But the Moscow prosecutor’s office warned once morest any protest action during the vote.
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