Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that he’s postponing until the end of the year, the possible announcement of his candidacy for the presidential elections scheduled for 2024, which could keep him in power until 2030.
“By law, Russian parliament (Duma) must make a decision at the end of the year, then the decision will be made, the elections will be announced, their date will be set, and we will discuss that,” Putin said during an economic forum in Vladivostok, in the far east of Russia.
Vladimir Putin has been in power in Russia since 2000, and amended the constitution in 2020, theoretically allowing him to remain in power until 2036, surpassing Joseph Stalin in terms of length of time in the Kremlin.
While the Russian army continues the military operation in Ukraine that he ordered to launch in February 2022, the announcement of his candidacy for a new term is almost certain at this stage, according to observers.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that what is important for Vladimir Putin is to know whether he can do more to improve the lives of citizens.
When revealing Putin’s electoral intentions, he added, “He proved that his ideas enjoy the support of society, among the political forces and in the regions”.
In recent years, the Russian opposition and civil society have been silenced key political opponents are either in prison – such as Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin’s number one enemy – or in exile.
Thousands of Russians, especially young people, left the country a year and a half ago for fear of being sent to the front.
