Russian leader is in his 5th term as head of the Kremlin; should become the longest-serving since Stalin, who led the Soviet Union for 28 years
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, completes this Tuesday (Dec 31, 2024) 25 years of his first term as President of Russia. Alternating between prime minister and president since 1999, the leader Russian must become the who led the Soviet Union for 28 years and 11 months (1924-1953). Putin was re-elected in March for another 6 years in power.
Putin, 72 years old, assumed the presidency bythe first time, temporarily, on December 31, 1999, at 46, after (1931-2007), the 1st after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
“I am convinced that ensuring the necessary growth dynamics is not just an economic problem. It is also a political and, in a certain sense – I am not afraid to use that word – ideological problem. To be more precise, it is an ideological, spiritual and moral problem. It seems to me that the latter is of particular importance at the present stage from the point of view of ensuring the unity of Russian society.”, upon assuming the Executive at the end of the 20th century.
Putin had been prime minister since August of the same year and was considered practically unknown to the general public at the time. During his term as head of Parliament, Putin commanded the 2nd Chechen war, when Russia attacked separatists in the region.
His dominance was consolidated by succeeding Yeltsin in the Kremlin. Putin was returned to the Presidency by popular vote in May 2000. The result, however, was questioned shortly after the election.
In September of the same year, Russian newspapers e declared that the elections were fraudulent, with coercion of employees by businesspeople to vote for Putin and more than 1 million false votes attributed to him. They also stated that Putin received only 42% of the votes, and not 53% as officially reported.
During his first term, Putin announced a decree that divided Russia’s 89 subdivisions into 7 federal districts, with the aim of facilitating the country’s administration. It also worked to centralize power in the Kremlin, reducing the autonomy of regional governors and increasing control over the media. He also implemented reforms that strengthened the Presidency as the main political authority in the country.
Among the political changes, Putin passed laws that made competition difficult, especially for opposition parties. With this, Putin enabled the United Russia party, founded in 2001, to consolidate itself as the main political force and its ally.
His first term was also marked by a significant economic recovery, driven by rising oil and gas prices, crucial for the Russian economy. The GDP growth rate increased, inflation was controlled and the country’s foreign exchange reserves increased.
Putin was re-elected in 2004 with 71% of the vote. The president began a national project to improve education, housing and agriculture in Russia when he was reappointed to office. The most relevant change in the program was the general increase in salaries in the medical and educational areas, as well as the decision to modernize equipment in both sectors, during 2006 and 2007.
He left the Presidency in 2008 after reaching the limit of 2 consecutive terms. He was replaced by his right-hand man Dmitri Medvedev in the Kremlin and returned to the position of prime minister. Upon assuming the Presidency, Medvedev amended the Constitution and increased the presidential term from 4 to 6 years.
Putin returned to the Presidency in 2012 for a 3rd term and was re-elected in 2018. In 2020, Russian citizens approved a constitutional amendment plebiscite that allows Vladimir Putin to be re-elected for another 2 terms. With the changes, Putin can be president of the country until 2036 and have 6 terms ahead of the Kremlin.
Putin’s popularity with the Russian population is due in particular to his attitude towards the wars fought with neighboring nations throughout his terms of office. Since his time as prime minister in 1999, the Russian leader has taken an aggressive stance towards his opponents.
With the conflicts in Chechnya (1999), Georgia (2008) and Ukraine – in the dispute over Crimea (2014) and again in 2022 –, Putin increasingly came to be considered a leader who wins wars in fact.
Furthermore, Putin was also responsible for strengthening Russia’s image before other countries after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Russia in the 1990s became weakened, with an almost invisible foreign policy compared to the United States and other European countries.
By assuming Executive power, Putin changed the international idea about the country and managed to consolidate it as a global war force. It also improved the quality of life of the domestic population, despite unpopular practices regarding its political management and its attitude towards the media.
- See what the world was like before Putin assumed the presidency for the first time:
