On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin won a landslide victory extending his rule over Russia-the worlds largest country, for another six years, at a time when his ties with the West are standing on the hostile ground.
Putin promises that he will use his new term to improve and upgrade Russia’s defenses against the West and also raise living standards. His victory will take his political dominance for nearly 25 years, until 2024, by when he will be 71.Only Stalin, the Soviet dictator ruled for longer.
Addressing a cheering crowd in a victory speech near Red Square, Putin said that he interpreted the win as a vote of confidence in what he had achieved in tough conditions.
Before leading the crowd in repeated chants of “Russia!”, he said that it was very important to maintain unity and focus on the best for their motherland. He also shared with a meeting of supporters that Russia had tough times ahead, none the less it could still make a breakthrough.
Putin had a dominant position and none of the seven candidates posed a serious threat to his candidature.Opposition leader Navalny was barred from the election.Some early signs suggested that the voter turnout would be 60 persent.Russia’s Central Election Commission stated that that there were some irregularities, but would be expected to declare the results as legitimate.
Igor Morozov, a member of the upper house of parliament, said on state television that the US and Briton have finally realised that they cannot influence the Russian elections.
Putin currently has no successor and has six years to consider one. Uncertainty about his long-term future would be a source of instability in a fractious ruling elite that only he could keep in check.
According to Kremlin insiders Putin has not selected a heir apparent and that any names doing the rounds were the product of speculation and not based on insider knowledge of Putin’s thinking.
Putin has become one of the longest-serving rulers in the world.Castro served for almost 50 years and Gaddafi for around 40. Putin’s victory will see him serving for 25 by the end of 2024 when he will turn 71.
