President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia emerged victorious from the three-day, stage-managed presidential vote, declaring his overwhelming win as a public mandate to act as needed in the war in Ukraine and on various domestic matters. However, this has left many Russians feeling uneasy about what comes next.
Mr. Putin’s campaign was framed by the ongoing war in Ukraine, with his victory seen as a popular mandate to continue the conflict. Despite the government’s dismissive attitude towards opposition protests, there were events linked to opposition politics that marred the image of national unity that the Kremlin sought to achieve.
The loyal opposition parties barely registered in the election, with none of the other candidates receiving more than five percent of the vote. This large margin of victory for Mr. Putin, who will now be president until at least 2030, raises questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process in an increasingly authoritarian Kremlin.
The war in Ukraine will continue to be an organizing principle for the Kremlin, with Mr. Putin promising both military strength and economic growth. However, Russians are uneasy about what happens next, speculating about potential unpopular policies or even a new military mobilization in the future.
Overall, Mr. Putin’s victory in the presidential election has solidified his power and influence, but it has also raised concerns and uncertainties among the Russian population about the direction the country will take in the coming years.
