Vladimir Putin Announces Re-election Run

Facts

• Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that he will run for re-election in 2024. He made his announcement after a Kremlin award ceremony for military veterans and posted a video statement after the event declaring his decision.¹
• Putin has led Russia for about 24 years, serving as the country’s president and prime minister during alternating terms. The 71-year-old is unlikely to face any serious opposition and is poised to secure another six-year term when Russians cast their votes on March 17.²
• Putin's current term expires on May 7. Many at Friday's ceremony honoring the 'Heroes of the Fatherland Day' urged him to seek another term — Artem Zhoga speaker of the parliament of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the father of a deceased Ukraine war veteran — asked him to run for re-election.³
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin’s announcement was made spontaneously in response to a military official's question, and Putin was not facing a camera when he revealed his intentions. He has served four terms as president and one as prime minister, and recent amendments to Russia’s constitution could allow him to serve two more terms until 2036.⁴
• In his announcement video, Putin said 'I won't hide it from you — I had various thoughts about it over time,' referring to how he would handle his political future. Some analysts believe that Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has pushed him to run again despite speculation that he wanted to find a successor to replace him in 2024.⁵
• While Western critics question the legitimacy of Russia's elections, Putin remains highly popular in his country and won 76% of the vote in the 2018 election. Public opinion polls show his approval rating soaring even higher following the invasion in Ukraine, with 82% of Russians supporting him.⁶

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²CNBC, ³Thecable, ⁴Forbes, ⁵CBS and ⁶FOX News.

Narratives

• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Sputnik international. By popular demand, Vladimir Putin is seeking re-election to continue serving as Russia's president. Despite Western lies and smears, the Russian people recognize and appreciate Putin as the national hero that he is. In the face of Western expansionism, Putin has put the sovereignty of Russia above all else and refused to bend the knee to Western hegemony that seeks to destroy the Russian nation. His re-election is going to be a popular shoo-in.
• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by The telegraph. Vladimir Putin held his 'unscripted' presidential announcement conveniently at a military ceremony in the Kremlin as he wields autocratic power despite massive Russian casualties. Putin's invasion of Ukraine has caused thousands of deaths and completely diminished Russia's standing in the global community, yet his carefully coordinated media pushes propaganda that keeps him 'popular' amongst Russians. His reelection campaign smacks of continued autocracy.

Predictions