Russian President Vladimir Putin will run for another term, announcing his candidacy in the race on Friday.
Putin announced his intention to run in the 2024 presidential election at a meeting with the speaker of the parliament of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), Artyom Zhoga, according to TASS, a Russian news agency.
Putin commented on his decision as follows:
I won’t hide it from you – I had various thoughts about it over time, but now, you’re right, it’s necessary to make a decision.
Putin still remains widely popular, with about 80% of the population approving of Putin’s performance as president, the Levada Centre, an independent pollster, told AP.
Elections are due to be held on 17 March, with Putin’s full term expiring on 7 May. Thus, if Vladimir Putin wins the presidential election, he will hold the presidency for another six years.
Vladimir Putin left the presidency in 2008 to become prime minister due to term limits. After that, the presidential term was increased to six years instead of four, and consecutive terms were extended in 2024.
