Putin wins

The voting booths have now shut across Russia, but the result was never uncertain: Russian President Vladimir Putin has clinched a fifth term in office through a contentious national plebiscite.

However, Russia’s three-day presidential election was not about adhering to democratic norms. For the Kremlin, a decisive victory in the first round will provide the incumbent with a renewed veneer of legitimacy and send a clear signal: Putin’s stance on Ukraine enjoys unwavering support from his populace.

In a speech to the Russian populace on the eve of the election, Putin called upon voters to participate as a display of national solidarity.

“I firmly believe that you comprehend the challenging period our nation is presently traversing, the formidable hurdles we confront across various fronts,” he remarked. “To tackle these challenges with resilience and successfully surmount them, we must remain united and self-assured.”

Putin emphasized that the Russian people are “a cohesive unit,” echoing this sentiment after the polls closed. Speaking alongside a group of enthusiastic campaign volunteers sporting shirts adorned with the slogan “Putin Russia Victory,” the president asserted that Russians “stand as one team, all citizens of Russia who turned out to cast their votes.”

Yet, Putin also made vague references to “numerous tasks ahead of us” following his re-election.

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