In a move that clears the path for Vladimir Putin’s fifth term as president, Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, has voted today, December 7, 2023, to set March 17, 2024, as the date for the country’s next presidential election.
This decision comes after years of assumptions regarding Putin’s intentions to run for president.
He has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999 and has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election. However, many believe it is highly likely.
However, in 2021, Putin signed legislation allowing him to potentially serve as president until 2036, bypassing the previous term limits.
According to some reports, Putin has successfully and effectively silenced and marginalised political opposition in Russia, leaving him with little competition.
While Putin’s official announcement is still pending, the Federation Council’s decision marks a significant step towards potentially extending his grip on power for another 12 years.
A number of 162 members of the Federation Council voted March 17, 2024, as the election date.
For the first time, residents of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson will be eligible to vote.
“By choosing a head of state together, we fully share the common responsibility and destiny of our fatherland,” said Matviyenko, head of the Federation Council.
The world now awaits Putin’s official statement on his candidature.
The upcoming presidential election will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for Russia as well as the political scene worldwide.