Vladimir Putin has secured a historic victory in the 2024 Russian presidential election. Running as an independent candidate, he obtained an impressive 87.28% of the popular vote, marking the highest percentage of victory in a presidential election in post-Soviet Russia.
His inauguration is scheduled for May 7, 2024.
According to the official results of Russia's presidential vote released by the Central Election Commission on Monday, Vladimir Putin has secured his fifth term as president with a staggering 87.28% of the vote. This marks a record share of votes for Putin, who was supported by over 75 million voters.
His opponents in the 2024 race, including Communist Party candidate Nikolay Kharitonov, Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, and Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democrats, secured much lower percentages of the vote.
Putin first became president in 2000 and served two consecutive terms until 2008. After a stint as prime minister, he returned to the presidency in 2012 and was re-elected in 2018.
This year's election saw an unprecedented level of voter participation, with a record-high turnout of over 74% according to CEC data, surpassing the 67.47% figure of the 2018 elections. The Chechen Republic, Kemerovo region, and Republic of Tyva saw the highest turnout, exceeding 90%. Additionally, presidential elections were held for the first time in Russia's newly established regions - the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People's Republics, as well as in Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions.
Vladimir Putin, one of the most influential leaders of the 21st century, has significantly shaped Russia’s political landscape through a mix of strategic exercises, military actions against some countries, and controversial policies. Let’s delve into some key aspects of his domestic and foreign policies:
Domestic Policy:
Vertical of Power: Early in his first presidency, Putin aimed to create a strict “vertical of power”. He divided Russia into federal districts overseen by representatives appointed by himself, streamlining federal administration.
Enlargement of Federal Subjects: Putin reduced the number of federal subjects from 89 to 83 by merging autonomous okrugs with their parent regions.
Sovereign Democracy: His administration has been described as a “sovereign democracy”, emphasizing policies that enjoy popular support within Russia itself and are not externally determined.
Governor Appointments: Putin gained the right to dismiss heads of federal subjects and ended the direct election of governors by popular vote. This move aimed to curb separatist tendencies and remove governors linked to organized crime.
Foreign Policy:
Annexation of Crimea (2014): Russia’s controversial annexation of Crimea from Ukraine led to international tensions.
War in Donbas (2014): Russia’s involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine escalated tensions further.
Intervention in Syria (2015): Russia supported the Syrian government during the civil war.
Invasion of Ukraine (2022): The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in widespread condemnation and sanctions.
Annexation of Ukrainian Regions (2022): Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions, further straining relations with the international community.
Putin’s Plan:
Putin’s actions and policies prioritize maintaining control within Russia, often diverging from Western political systems.
His influence remains significant, and his fifth term as president was widely expected.
In summary, Putin’s policies have shaped Russia’s trajectory, both domestically and on the global stage.
