13.52°C Vancouver

May 7, 2024 5:56 PM - The Associated Press

Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever

Share On
putin-begins-his-fifth-term-as-president-more-in-control-of-russia-than-ever
Since succeeding President Boris Yeltsin in the waning hours of 1999, Putin has transformed Russia from a country emerging from economic collapse to a pariah state that threatens global security.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.

Already in office for nearly a quarter-century and the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin, Putin’s new term doesn’t expire until 2030, when he will be constitutionally eligible to run again.

At the ceremony inside the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and vowed to defend it as a crowd of hand-picked dignitaries looked on.

Since succeeding President Boris Yeltsin in the waning hours of 1999, Putin has transformed Russia from a country emerging from economic collapse to a pariah state that threatens global security. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that has become Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, Russia has been heavily sanctioned by the West and is turning to other regimes like China, Iran and North Korea for support.

Vladimir Putin begins his fifth term as Russian president in an opulent Kremlin inauguration Tuesday, after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and consolidating all power in his hands.

Already in office for nearly a quarter-century and the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin, Putin’s new term doesn’t expire until 2030, when he is constitutionally eligible to run for another six years.

He has transformed Russia from a country emerging from economic collapse to a pariah state that threatens global security. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that has become Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, Russia has been heavily sanctioned by the West and is turning other regimes like China, Iran and North Korea for support.

The question now is what the 71-year-old Putin will do over the course of another six years, both at home and abroad.

Russian forces are gaining ground in Ukraine, deployingscorched-earth tacticsas Kyiv grapples withshortages of men and ammunition.Both sides are taking heavy casualties.

Ukraine has brought the battle to Russian soil through drone and missile attacks, especially in border regions. In a speech in February, Putin vowed to fulfillMoscow’s goals in Ukraine, and do what is needed to “defend our sovereignty and security of our citizens.”

Shortly after his orchestrated reelection in March, Putin suggested that a confrontation between NATO and Russia is possible, and he declared he wanted to carve out abuffer zonein Ukraine to protect his country from cross-border attacks.

At home, Putin's popularity is closely tied to improving living standards for ordinary Russians.

He began histerm in 2018by promising to get Russia into the top five global economies, vowing it should be “modern and dynamic.” Instead, Russia's economy has pivotedto a war footing, and authorities are spending record amounts on defense.

Analysts say now that Putin has secured another six years in power, the government could take the unpopular steps of raising taxes to fund the war and pressure more men to join the military.

At the start of a new term, the Russian government is routinely dissolved so that Putin can name a new prime minister and Cabinet.

One key area to watch is the Defense Ministry.

Last year, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came under pressure over his conduct of the war, with mercenary leaderYevgeny Prigozhinlaunching withering criticism against him for shortages of ammunition for his private contractors fighting in Ukraine. Prigozhin's brief uprising in June against the Defense Ministry represented the biggest threat to Putin's rule.

After Prigozhin was killed two months later in a mysterious plane crash, Shoigu appeared to have survived the infighting. But last month, his protege, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, was detained on charges of bribery amid reports of rampant corruption.

Some analysts have suggested Shoigu could become a victim of the government reshuffle but that would be a bold move as the war is still raging in Ukraine.

In the years following the invasion,authorities have cracked downon any form of dissent with a ferocity not seen since Soviet times. There is no sign that this repression will ease in Putin's new term.

His greatest political foe, opposition leaderAlexei Navalny,died in an Arctic penal colony in February. Other prominent critics have either been imprisoned or have fled the country, and even some of hisopponents abroad fear for their security.

Laws have been enacted that threaten long prison terms for anyone who discredits the military. The Kremlin also targets independent media, rights groups, LGBTQ+ activists and others who don't hew to what Putin has emphasized as Russia's “traditional family values.”

Latest news

trump-hits-canadian-lumber-producers-with-additional-10-per-cent-tariff
WorldOct 01, 2025

Trump hits Canadian lumber producers with additional 10 per cent tariff

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued new tariffs that could add further pressure on Canadian producers of softwood lumber and furniture. A presidential proclamation on Monday evening set out a 10 per cent duty on imports of softwood timber and lumber, along with a 25 per cent levy on imports of kitchen cabinets and vanities — both parts and completed models — and other upholstered wooden products. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect Oct. 14. The rate applied to kitchen cabinets and vanities is set to jump to 50 per cent on Jan. 1, with the levy on other upholstered wooden products r
AlbertaOct 01, 2025

Family of Alberta boy missing for a week won't stop searching until he's found

The family of a six-year-old Alberta boy missing for more than a week says they won't rest until he's brought home. A statement by the family of Darius Macdougall comes as the search for the boy enters its second week and hundreds comb through mountainous terrain in southern Alberta. It says the family is thankful to the searchers for their dedication and that the community's support has provided them strength and hope. Darius was reported missing after he didn't return from a walk with six young relatives in the Crowsnest Pass area, where the family had been camping. RCMP had
AlbertaOct 01, 2025

No talks planned as 51,000 Alberta teachers set to hit picket lines next week

The head of the Alberta Teachers' Association says no talks are scheduled and 51,000 teachers are set to hit picket lines Monday in a provincewide strike. Jason Schilling says teachers sent a clear message Monday night by overwhelming rejecting the latest contract offer from Premier Danielle Smith's government. Schilling, in an interview on Corus radio, says the government's offer of a 12-per-cent pay raise over four years and a promise to hire 3,000 more teachers is a drop in the bucket compared to what's needed to catch up on wages and reduce overcrowded classrooms. He says th
anand-taking-two-different-approaches-to-building-bridges-with-china-india
CanadaOct 01, 2025

Anand taking two different approaches to building 'bridges' with China, India

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is off to India and China in the coming weeks, where she plans to take two distinct approaches to mending frayed ties with the world's two most populous countries. "I do not think it is wise to group countries in one region of the world together, and certainly not those two countries," Anand told The Canadian Press. "Our relationship with each of these countries is separate and we are approaching them very differently." Anand spoke Monday after the United Nations General Assembly's high-level week in New York, where she spent several days meeting with forei
rescuers-in-desperate-search-after-a-powerful-earthquake-hit-the-philippines-killing-at-least-69
WorldOct 01, 2025

Rescuers in desperate search after a powerful earthquake hit the Philippines, killing at least 69

Rescuers are using backhoes and sniffer dogs to look for survivors in collapsed houses and other damaged buildings in the central Philippines, a day after an earthquake killed at least 69 people. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The quake trapped an unspecified number of residents in the hard-hit city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province. Army troops, police and civilian volunteers were deployed Wednesday to carry out house-to-house searches. Officials say tntermittment rain and damaged bridges

Related News