Putin inaugurated for fourth term and vows to raise living standards
VLADIMIR Putin has taken the oath of office for his fourth term as Russian President and promised to pursue an economic agenda that would boost living standards across the country.
In a ceremony in an ornate Kremlin hall, Mr Putin said improving Russia’s economy following a recession partly linked to international sanctions would be a primary goal of his next six-year term.
“We must use all existing possibilities, first of all for resolving internal urgent tasks of development, for economic and technological breakthroughs, for raising competitiveness in those spheres that determine the future,” he said in his speech to thousands of guests standing in the elaborate Andreevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace and two adjacent halls.
“A new quality of life, well-being, security and people’s health – that’s what’s primary today,” he said.
Although Mr Putin has restored Russia’s prominence on the world stage through military action, he has been criticised for inadequate efforts to diversify Russia’s economy away from its dependence on oil and gas exports and to develop the manufacturing sector.
The 65-year-old held on to the presidency in March’s election when he won 77 per cent of the vote.
He has effectively been the leader of Russia for all of the 21st century. He stepped down from the presidency in 2008 because of term limits, but was named prime minister and continued to steer the country until he returned as president in 2012.
“Russia should be modern and dynamic, it should be ready to accept the call of the times,” he said. He made only brief reference to Russia’s international role, saying: “Russia is a strong, active, influential participant in international life.
“The security and defence capability of the country is reliably ensured. We will give these matters the necessary constant attention.”
He acknowledged the challenges facing Russia were formidable, “but we all remember well that, for more than a thousand years of history, Russia has often faced epochs of turmoil and trials, and has always revived as a phoenix, reached heights that others could not”.
The ceremony was covered in detail on state television, showing Mr Putin working at his desk in his shirt sleeves, then donning a suit jacket to begin a long walk through the corridors of the Kremlin’s Senate building, then boarding a limousine for a short drive to the Grand Kremlin Palace.
Thousands of guests stood in the three halls for the inauguration. One of the most prominent was former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is now chairman of Russia’s state oil company Rosneft and one of the most prominent Western voices arguing for an end to sanctions against Russia. Mr Schroeder stood with prime minister Dmitry Medvedev and Mr Putin shook hands with him after the speech.
Soon after the ceremony, Mr Putin issued an order formally dissolving the cabinet but nominated Mr Medvedev to serve again as prime minister. The lower house of parliament is to vote on whether to approve him today.
Over the weekend, Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Mr Putin protested in scores of cities across the country – and police responded by reportedly arresting more than 1,000 of them.
Among those arrested was protest organiser Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Mr Putin’s most prominent foe. Police seized Mr Navalny by the arms and legs and carried the thrashing activist from Moscow’s Pushkin Square, where thousands were gathered for an unauthorised protest.
Police also used batons against protesters who chanted “Putin is a thief” and “Russia will be free”. Demonstrations under the slogan “He is not our czar” took place throughout the country, from Yakutsk in the far north east to St Petersburg and Kaliningrad on the fringes of Europe.
The protests demonstrated that Mr Navalny’s opposition, although considered beleaguered by officials and largely ignored by state-controlled television, has sizeable support in much of the country. “I think that Putin isn’t worthy of leading this country. He has been doing it for 18 years and has done nothing good for it,” said Moscow demonstrator Dmitry Nikitenko. “He should leave for good.”
OVD-INFO, an organisation that monitors political repression, said late on Saturday that at least 1,029 people had been detained at demonstrations in 19 Russian cities.
It said 574 were arrested in Moscow alone.
Moscow police said about 300 people were detained in the capital, state news agencies said, and there was no official countrywide tally.
Mr Navalny was to be charged with disobeying police, an offence that carries a sentence of up to 15 days in jail, news reports said, though when he would face a judge was not immediately clear.
Mr Navalny has served several multiweek stretches in jail on similar charges.
In St Petersburg, police blocked off a stretch of Nevsky Prospekt as a crowd of about 1,000 marched along the renowned avenue. Video showed some demonstrators being detained.