Putin Aims For Another Term: Announces Presidential Bid In 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his candidacy for the presidential election 2024 held in March, signaling his intention to prolong his control over the country for another six years. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and internal dissent, Putin remains in a strong position to secure a comfortable victory.

Despite initiating a costly war in Ukraine and facing internal attacks that even targeted the Kremlin, Putin maintains significant support after ruling for nearly a quarter-century. Recent events, like the short-lived rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, sparked speculation about Putin's grip weakening. However, emerging unscathed from this incident, along with Prigozhin's subsequent mysterious death in a plane crash, reinforced the perception of Putin's absolute authority.

Putin revealed his decision to run for the presidency during a Kremlin award ceremony, as reported by Tass and RIA Novosti state news agencies.

Around 80% of the population approves of his leadership, according to the independent pollster Levada Center. This support might stem from genuine sentiment or from a populace constrained by the severe crackdown on opposition, where even mild criticism poses risks.

Expected to face nominal opposition in the elections, Putin, 71, has previously manipulated constitutional amendments twice to potentially extend his rule until his mid-80s. He holds the record for the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin. In 2008, he transitioned to prime minister due to term limits but retained significant influence. Later, he extended presidential terms to six years from four and reset term limits with a series of amendments, positioning himself for potential continued power until 2024 and beyond.

Presidential elections will be held in Russia on 15-17 March 2024. If no candidate receives more than half the vote, a second round will take place exactly three weeks later, on 7 April 2024. The winner of the election is scheduled to be inaugurated on 7 May 2024.