Russia’s ruling party backs Putin’s presidential bid

United Russia has approved the incumbent leader’s run as an independent candidate

The convention of the ruling United Russia party has unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s bid to seek reelection next year as an independent candidate. If the incumbent leader wins the vote, it will be his fifth term in office.

The motion was put to a vote by former president and United Russia chair Dmitry Medvedev during the party’s congress, held at the All-Russian Exhibition Center on Sunday. When asked who supported Putin’s candidacy, the entire audience raised their hands, with no nays or abstentions, according to the video of the conference.

During his speech, Medvedev also stated that “there is not a vestige doubt who should be at the helm of the Russian state in this turbulent period,” suggesting that Putin enjoys overwhelming public support. When election day comes, he continued, United Russia “would do its best to help incumbent President Vladimir Putin secure a landslide victory once again.”

Speaking at the same convention, Putin thanked United Russia for its consistent support, noting that the country still has to solve “historic tasks,” including protecting the nation’s independence and place in the global arena. 

Russia, unlike other countries, cannot abandon its sovereignty in exchange for sausage and become someone’s satellite. Russia… will be a sovereign power, or it won’t be at all.

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