Putin is on track to becoming Russia’s longest serving leader in over two centuries as he wins another election.
In a resounding victory, President Vladimir Putin clinched a record post-Soviet landslide in Russia’s election on Sunday, further tightening his hold on power.
Putin’s triumph, marked by an overwhelming 87.8% of the vote according to an exit poll by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), sends a clear message of Moscow’s assertiveness on the global stage, particularly in its stance against the West and its involvement in Ukraine.
The election outcome paves the way for Putin, 71, to embark on an unprecedented six-year term, surpassing Josef Stalin to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in over two centuries if he completes his tenure.
In his victory speech delivered in Moscow, Putin emphasized prioritizing tasks associated with what he termed Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, pledging to bolster the Russian military.
Putin said, “We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated – no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us – nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future.”
He highlighted the significance of unity in the face of external pressures, asserting that history has shown that attempts to intimidate or suppress Russia have always failed.
However, criticism abounds regarding the election’s fairness, with the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other nations citing concerns over the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.