Russian President Vladimir Putin has not decided yet whether to run for office next year as an independent candidate or secure support from the ruling party, his spokesman said Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to employees of Rostec Corporation during an awarding ceremony at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The 65-year old Russian leader, who has ruled the country since 2000, ended months of speculation by announcing Wednesday that he would seek his fourth term in office in the March 18 presidential vote. Putin's 80-percent approval ratings make his victory all but certain.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday that the president has yet to make up his mind whether he would run as an independent or on United Russia's platform.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with workers of the GAZ factory in Nizny Novgorod, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. Putin says he will seek re-election in next March's election. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
United Russia won last year's parliamentary election, but is nowhere near as popular as Putin. The Russian president may want to avoid association with the party, which has been tainted with corruption scandals.
Asked if there is anyone to challenge Putin, Peskov told reporters Thursday that Putin is "the strongest candidate."
A protester stands in a one-person picket, holding a poster reading 'Putin go away-we do not follow your path!' in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
"The level of the popular support that he enjoys is unavailable for other candidates," Peskov said.
The Kremlin has been worried about growing voter apathy, and the uncertainty over Putin's plans seemed intended to encourage public interest in the race.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, listens to a question at a meeting with workers of the GAZ factory in Nizny Novgorod, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Putin's most visible adversary, anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navlany, declared his intention to run last December but a criminal conviction bars his from running for president. Navalny has been convicted on two separate sets of charges largely viewed as politically motivated.
Despite the ban, Russia's most popular opposition politician has mounted a grassroots campaign and held rallies across Russia to pressure the Kremlin to allow him to run.
Putin's potential rivals include several luckless candidates from past contests and one notable newcomer — TV host Ksenia Sobchak, 36, the daughter of Putin's former boss.
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia 's governing conservatives convincingly won a highly contested parliamentary election Wednesday, but will still need support from far-right groups to stay in power, according to the official vote count.
The election followed a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the country's president and prime minister.
The ballot pitted the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, against an alliance of centrist and left-wing parties informally led by populist President Zoran Milanovic and his Social Democratic Party, or SDP.
With over 90% of the ballots counted, the state electoral commission said that the HDZ won 60 seats in the 151-seat parliament. The SDP got 42 seats. The far-right Statehood Movement was third, with 14 seats, making it a kingmaker in future talks for the next government.
“Starting tomorrow morning, we will start forming a new parliamentary majority in order to form our third government," Plenkovic said in his victory speech. “I want to congratulate the other parties that were defeated by the HDZ.”
Turnout was more than 50% — a record — hours before the polls closed.
The election was held as Croatia, a European Union and NATO member, struggles with the highest inflation rate in the eurozone, a labor shortage, illegal migration and reports of widespread corruption.
At stake in the race for Croatia’s 151-seat parliament wasn't just the Adriatic Sea country's future domestic policies, but also the EU’s unity as it grapples with the instability from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
If the HDZ stays in power as expected, the country would continue on a pro-Western course in supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Success for SDP could put it on track for victory in the European Parliament election in June and the presidential election in December. It would shake the HDZ’s long dominance of politics and potentially open space for stronger pro-Russia influence in the country, akin to Hungary and Slovakia.
The HDZ has largely held office since Croatia gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. The Balkan nation became the newest member of the European Union in 2013, and joined Europe’s passport-free travel area and the eurozone last year.
The president holds a largely ceremonial role in Croatia, while the prime minister exerts most of the political power. The election has played out as the final episode in a long-running rivalry between Plenkovic and Milanovic.
After Milanovic scheduled the election and announced his surprise bid for prime minister, he began campaigning on behalf of the SDP. But Croatia’s constitutional court judges stepped in, saying the move was unconstitutional.
The judges said that the president can’t run for prime minister, take part in the parliamentary election or campaign in favor of any party, unless he first resigns.
Milanovic refused, openly ignoring the top court and continuing to campaign in favor of the left-wing alliance
Milanovic has accused Plenkovic and the HDZ of rampant corruption and “massive theft” of state funds, referring to past and present scandals, some of which had ended up in the courts.
Plenkovic, who has led the government since 2016, repeatedly denied the accusations, saying Milanovic as the prime minister would shift the country away from the EU and closer to Russia.
Milanovic has often voiced a pro-Russia stance during the war in Ukraine, opposing the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Croatia as well as sending weapons to Ukraine because, in his view, it only prolongs the war. He also criticized the EU’s policies over Ukraine.
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic toasts with a glass of champagne after claiming victory in a parliamentary election in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Croatia's governing conservatives convincingly won a highly contested parliamentary election Wednesday, but will still need support from far-right groups to stay in power, according to the official vote count. The election followed a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the country's president and prime minister. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic waves after claiming victory in a parliamentary election in Zagreb, Croatia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Croatia's governing conservatives convincingly won a highly contested parliamentary election Wednesday, but will still need support from far-right groups to stay in power, according to the official vote count. The election followed a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the country's president and prime minister. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic, right, waves after casting his vote at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
A delivery man waits for green light on a street in front of an election poster in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Croatia this week holds a parliamentary election following a campaign that was marked by heated exchanges between the country's two top officials, creating a political crisis in the Balkan country, a European Union and NATO member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic, centre, attends his party's rally in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Croatia this week holds a parliamentary election following a campaign that was marked by heated exchanges between the country's two top officials, creating a political crisis in the Balkan country, a European Union and NATO member state. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic speaks to the media after casting his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic, center, leaves a polling station after voting at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic speaks to the media after casting his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic speaks to the media after casting his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Prime Minister incumbent Andrej Plenkovic casts his ballot at a polling station in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Croatia is voting in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the small European Union and NATO member. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
