In Russia, Vladimir Putin is getting ready for his fourth term as Russian President. His easy victory in the Presidential election on Sunday has been confirmed, while the opposition has accused his party of pressurising and tempting people to vote. Putin has been estimated to get around 73.9% of the votes in the exit poll.
A large number of voters consider Putin, 65, to stand for Russia’s interests against the enemy world. UK’s accusations against Russia in the case of the poisoning of a former Russian spy have not harmed his stature. According to Alexander Kirukkhin, a 79-year-old voter from Simferopol village in Crimea, Putin has saved their lives. Nobody can take their place in Russia now. In 2014, Russia took the area from Ukraine. Western countries had criticised the move, but most Russians praised Putin.
Most voters believe that Putin has no alternative in Russia. In the meantime, Putin’s opponents alleged that the authorities had pressured people into voting more. Government employees were told to report to their bosses that they had voted. At many polling stations, voters were seen taking photos on their phones in front of the ballot boxes. On being asked, they replied that these were photographic reports for the boss.
There are 10.7 million voters in Russia. Apart from Putin for the presidential post, seven other candidates are also in the fray. But his main opponent, Alexei Navalny, has been barred from contesting the elections for legal reasons. Navalny has alleged that voting is merely a show and the number of voters has been rigged. Similar allegations have been leveled by opposition leader Yevgeny Rozeman. He said that all the polling stations in the country were flanked. It is abusive, we are not sheep. Apart from this, stalls were put on polling stations where various goods were sold at low cost. Putin, who has ruled Russia for the longest time after Joseph Stalin, said after voting that he would be happy with any consequence that gave him the right to stay in office.
The President has real powers in Russia. He is the most powerful person in the country. After this, the Prime Minister is in the second place and the President of the Federal Council (Upper House) at the third place. In Russia, the proceedings of Parliament are similar to India. There is a federal assembly. Two chambers are the Federal Council and State Duma.
Vladimir Putin became Executive President of Russia 19 years ago. He contested for the first time in 2000 and won 53% of the vote. In 2004, he became president again after winning 71.2% of the vote, while in 2012, he won another 63.3% of the vote. Now this time, he will be president until 2024.
In Russia the term of the first President was four years, but in 2012 it was changed to six years.