Russian lawmakers call presidential elections for March 2024

2023-12-07 07:52:02

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian lawmakers on Thursday chose March 17, 2024 as the date for the next presidential election, putting Vladimir Putin a little closer to his fifth term.

Putin, 71, has not yet announced his intention to run for re-election but, now that there is a date, he is expected to do so in the coming days.

Under constitutional reforms he orchestrated, he will be eligible for two more six-year terms once his current one expires next year.

After having established tight control over the Russian political system, the president’s victory is almost assured. The most prominent critics who might challenge him at the polls are either imprisoned or living abroad, and most independent media are banned.

Neither the costly and drawn-out military campaign in Ukraine nor last summer’s thwarted rebellion led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin appear to have affected his high approval ratings, according to independent polls.

The March elections pave the way for him to remain in power at least until 2030.

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