Meduza: Kremlin prepares for 2024 presidential election

The Kremlin has started to prepare for the 2024 presidential campaign, involving officials and political strategists, Meduza says, citing two sources close to the presidential administration.

Only the outline sketch of the upcoming campaign is clear to the Kremlin, however, Vladimir Putin will be the candidate, they say. “It is certain that Putin will be [the Kremlin’s] candidate. His “sparring partners” will be leaders of the parties represented in the parliament. No liberal candidates are expected, even for a show,” Medusa's source says.

The sources close to the Kremlin specify that what is now clear is that Putin’s next campaign will be built around “anti-Western” narratives. Putin, as usual, will talk about “the return of Russia’s greatness, the fight against the West and the multipolar world.” However, the sources believe that “this is not what the electorate is worried about, but it is something that the president himself finds interesting.”

In addition, the Kremlin hopes that the Ukraine War will be over before the presidential election. “What will be declared a victory? You have to go to the polls with achievements. For example, with a certain set of annexed territories. But what territories these will be is still unclear,” one of the sources emphasised.

However, the Kremlin intends to achieve record results for Putin in the upcoming election. Medusa's source close to the presidential administration explains: “After the figures of the “accession referendums” in four Ukraine’s regions were published, it is impossible for Putin to have a much lower result. Putin’s support must be total, and it must be demonstrated to the West.”

One of the political campaigners working for the Kremlin noted that he considers the most “logical” and “understandable” option not to hold elections at all in 2024, but to introduce nationwide martial law and postpone voting. “By 2024, the economic consequences of the sanctions and the isolation will fully kick in. It is clear that any [polling] result can be demonstrated, but why is it necessary to unsettle the population with implausible election results?” the source says.

However, such a scenario is unlikely to come true since “Putin loves to see the results of his nationwide support.”

Russia last had a presidential election in 2018. According to the official data, Vladimir Putin won the election, gaining 76.69% of the votes.