March 17 set for Russian presidential election
Russia's path to President Vladimir Putin's potential fourth term became clearer on Thursday as the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, set the date for the 2024 presidential election. The vote will be held on March 17, 2024.
The decision, which received unanimous support from the 162 members of the Federation Council, marks the official launch of the presidential campaign and adds fuel to speculation about Putin's own candidacy.
"By this decision, we are practically launching the start of the presidential campaign," declared Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matvienko. She also noted that the election will be the first to include residents of the newly annexed Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
While Putin has not formally announced his intention to run, the timing and circumstances suggest his participation is highly likely. Under recent constitutional reforms, he is eligible for two additional six-year terms after his current one expires next year, potentially extending his leadership until 2036.
Putin has held the position of president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, when Boris Yeltsin resigned. He currently faces no significant political opposition, with prominent figure Alexei Navalny imprisoned for over 30 years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
