“Collectively, we’ll overcome.” By devoting the primary and final phrases of his inaugural speech to conflict, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday, Might 7, firmly set the theme of his new time period – his fifth – within the Kremlin: confrontation. Not with Ukraine – too insignificant to even point out – however with a West whose “coverage of aggression” is not going to stop Russia from turning into “even stronger.”
From the very first seconds of his speech, Putin, who was re-elected on March 17 with (formally) 87.28% of the vote, saluted the “heroes taking part within the ‘particular army operation’,” a few of whom have been current among the many 3,500 or so company, which additionally included members of the elite reunited below the gilding of the presidential palace, in addition to ambassadors from international nations, together with France. Simply as shortly, he talked about “the residents of our historic lands who defended the suitable to be along with the Motherland,” in reference to the Ukrainian areas annexed by pressure in March 2014 and September 2022.
Though this exactly and fastidiously organized ceremony left little room for improvisation, there have been some notable developments. Throughout his first phrases in workplace, Putin made some extent of mentioning the nation’s democratic growth and its residents’ rights, along with his hand on the Structure; nevertheless, these phrases disappeared after 2012, a yr marked by huge protests over alleged electoral fraud.
‘A sacred responsibility’
As a substitute, on Tuesday, Putin selected to focus on “defending the pursuits and safety of the Russian individuals” as a precedence, seeing this mission as “a sacred responsibility” – he then attended a mass throughout which the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill known as him, earlier than correcting himself, “Your Majesty” (or “Your Grandeur,” in a extra modest translation). True to his unwavering line on guaranteeing the Russian individuals a type of normality in on a regular basis life, the president didn’t neglect to say “growth” initiatives and “high quality of life for households.”
For the primary time, the ceremony was broadcast by nearly all native TV channels – together with sports activities and leisure channels, with laudatory feedback from the hosts.
“We glance to the longer term with confidence,” insisted Putin, whereas the home and international state of affairs appear to vindicate these optimistic assurances: on the Ukrainian entrance, his military is making progress, albeit slowly and at the price of heavy losses; his protection business is firing on all cylinders, supported by China, to the purpose of overheating the Russian economic system; the elite and society as a complete are displaying if not cohesion, not less than loyalty; the opposition is stifled, its leaders useless or in jail.
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