After Vladimir Putin’s election victory, international newspapers are not very squeamish about the Russian president. “Putin is a threat to the world,” wrote the Financial Times. According to the Independent, the West must now show its colours.
After a presidential election that was mired in allegations of rigging, Russia’s election commission awarded Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin a record result of nearly 88 percent of the vote. Voter Ella Pamfilova announced this on Sunday evening, after almost a quarter of the ballots had been counted. This means that the 71-year-old Putin has won more than ten percentage points compared to the 2018 elections.
International newspapers responded to Monday’s presidential elections in Russia as follows:
“The Independent” (London): “With this expectedly clear outcome behind them, Putin and the Kremlin will see the elections as a sign of support for the war in Ukraine. And this is where Western countries must also show their colors by providing Kiev with the weapons, ammunition and resources the armed forces need to defend themselves against Russian forces.”
“Financial Times” (London): “He crushed the political competition in his own country and brought the war back to the European continent on a massive scale – with a high six-figure death and injury toll. All this is a tragedy – especially for the people of Ukraine and Russia. But a fifth term for Putin is also a threat to Europe and the world. This is not the first time in Russia’s history that repression at home has gone hand in hand with a more aggressive foreign policy. The recent elections were an even bigger farce than their predecessors, with most of the real contenders living in exile, imprisoned or dead.”
“New Zürcher Zeitung”: “The handling of the opposing candidates, the repression and the choreography of the elections by the presidential government showed, despite the regime’s flaunting self-confidence, that a lot of effort was needed to make its splendor shine even brighter. Putin’s opponents were deliberately crushed with the now expected result of almost 90 percent. This triumph of those in power does not mean anything good for anyone who thinks differently in the country.”
“Corriere della Sera” (rom): “The special operations elections are over. Vladimir Putin has completed his transformation into war czar, leading a country whose future he sees as one of perpetual conflict. That was the purpose of this deliberate plebiscite, which was of great importance to the Kremlin: an increasingly authoritarian and personal political system needs regular confirmation of how popular its leader is.
“Iswestija” (Moscow): “The presidential elections in Russia saw record turnout: according to preliminary data, more than 74 percent of citizens decided to vote in 2024. This speaks for the consolidation of Russian society against the backdrop of external threats. Several members of the Central Election Commission told Izvestia that the high level of activity in the elections was also due to the actions of the regime in Kiev, which increased its attacks on areas near the border during the election days. Experts explain the record results with the phenomenon of ‘cohesion around the flag’ – when the citizens of a country that is part of a military conflict consolidate around the ruling leadership.”
“Nesawissimaja Gaseta” (Moscow): “The presidential election showed real competition between regions and companies for the highest turnout. Regional authorities urged the loyal electorate (disparagingly referred to by some pundits as the dependent electorate) to vote, while big corporations, municipal corporations, utilities and other major employers lured them straight to the polls. It was clear that there was competition between regions to see which of them topped the list of voter mobilization records. This was undoubtedly fueled by cases of hooliganism at polling stations by individual citizens who were either sane due to their age, misled by enemy propaganda or suffering from psychological problems. There were more than twenty incidents on the first day alone. The pouring of green paint into the ballot boxes may have been a response to known cases of opposition members being doused with such liquid. It was noticed that the state propaganda eagerly spread these cases, which further inflamed the mood. The political protests at the polling stations at noon on March 17 and the riots by some citizens ultimately only strengthened the loyalists’ mobilization.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
