Vladimir Putin Announces Candidacy for 2024 Presidential Election: 'I Won't Conceal...'

Analysts predict that Vladimir Putin is poised to secure his sixth term without significant opposition, aiming to secure a substantial mandate to mask internal tensions regarding the Ukraine conflict.

Vladimir Putin Announces Candidacy for 2024 Presidential Election:

KEY POINTS

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially declared his candidacy for the 2024 national presidential elections, as reported by state news agency Tass, according to a Google translation.

• Putin, who has led Russia for approximately 24 years, aims to secure another presidential victory, potentially extending his tenure in Russian politics until at least 2030.

• Survey data from the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, cited by Tass, reveals that 78.5% of Russians express trust in Putin, with 75.8% approving of his actions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 national presidential elections, as reported by the state news agency Tass. The elections are scheduled for March 17, with Putin's current term set to expire on May 7.

Having led Russia for approximately 24 years, alternating between the roles of prime minister and president since 1999, Putin seeks another presidential mandate, potentially extending his political tenure until at least 2030. The decision to run was reportedly confirmed during an event where Putin was awarding medals to veterans of the conflict in Ukraine, referred to by Moscow as a "special operation."

Putin, aged 71, could remain in power until 2036, thanks to constitutional amendments he oversaw. In 2008, the presidential term was extended from four to six years, and in 2020, changes allowed him to pursue two additional six-year terms after the expiration of his current one in 2024.

Despite facing international criticism and sanctions over the ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin remains popular domestically. According to survey figures from the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, 78.5% of Russians trust Putin, with 75.8% approving of his activities.

Western disapproval has led to Russia aligning itself more closely with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. An arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in March 2023 for war crimes related to the Ukraine conflict has limited Putin's ability to travel abroad.

Looking ahead, Putin faces economic challenges due to ongoing sanctions affecting Russia's oil industry, a key revenue source. G7 countries are barred from accessing Russian oil supplies, while non-G7 nations can only use Western shipping and insurance services at discounted prices. Russia's "dark fleet" of tankers complicates efforts to monitor these flows.

Despite these challenges, Putin expressed optimism at the Russia Calling business forum, stating that the country's GDP is expected to grow by 3.5% in the current year, rebounding from a 2.1% contraction in 2022. He also attributed this growth to Russia surpassing its GDP levels before the impact of Western sanctions.