Information about Putin’s re-candidacy was reported by the Reuters agency with reference to six sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to them, the head of the Kremlin intends to run for another six-year mandate, believing that he must lead Russia through “the most dangerous period in the last few decades”.
“The world we’re looking at is very dangerous,” one source said. “Russia faces the combined power of the West, so a fundamental change would not be expedient,” he added.
“The decision has already been made – he will run,” confirmed another source with experience in planning. The head of the Kremlin decided “recently” and the official announcement will come “soon”. The choreography of the campaign, for which Putin’s advisers are already preparing, will be known within a few weeks, according to Reuters.
According to TASS, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the Reuters information by stating that “Putin has not yet commented on this matter” and that “the campaign itself has not yet been officially announced.”
For Putin, who enjoys 80 percent support in Russia according to polls, the election is a formality. If he runs, with the support of the state, state media and almost no public dissent, it is certain that he will win, Reuters writes.
Putin, who celebrated his 71st birthday a month ago, has been Russia’s leader longer than any other Russian, or Soviet ruler since Joseph Stalin. He even surpassed Leonid Brezhnev, who ruled the country for 18 years.
Putin first assumed the post of head of state on the last day of 1999, when his predecessor Boris Yeltsin abdicated. Between 2008 and 2012, Putin was prime minister, but then he returned to the presidency.
