Putin Stays in Kremlin
Vladimir Putin will lead Russia for another six years, after securing an expected victory in Sunday’s presidential election.
Vladimir Putin will lead Russia for another six years, after securing an expected victory in Sunday’s presidential election.
Russia’s incumbent head of state Vladimir Putin has garnered 76.65% of the vote in the March 18 election with 99% of the ballots counted, the country’s Central Election Commission said. Reported by Tass.
More than 55.4 mln people voted for Putin, while over 8.54 mln supported Grudinin and around 4.1 mln voted in Zhirinovsky’s favor.
The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was barred from the race.
Addressing a rally in Moscow, Mr Putin said voters had “recognised the achievements of the last few years”.
The scale of victory – which had been widely predicted – appears to be a marked increase in his share of the vote from 2012, when he won 64%. According to BBC.
Mr. Putin’s nearest competitor, millionaire communist Pavel Grudinin, received about 12%.
The race also included Ksenia Sobchak, a former reality TV host, and veteran nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky – they got less than 2% and about 6% respectively.
Mr. Putin has ruled the country as either president or prime minister since 1999.
Putin’s campaign team said it was an “incredible victory”.
