Vladimir
Putin addressed the citizens of Russia following
the announcement of the presidential election official results
by the Central Election Commission.
March
23, 2018
13:00
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, friends,
Today
the Central Election Commission announced the final results
of the Russian presidential election.
Over
67 percent of voters, which is over 73 million citizens, took part
in the voting. Over 56 million of them, which is over 76
percent, voted for the current Head of State. It sets
a record in the history of our country.
On March 18,
right after the preliminary results were announced, I addressed
a rally on Manezhnaya Square and spoke at my election
campaign headquarters. I thanked my supporters, everyone who voted, it
was both necessary and timely that night.
However,
given the large-scale and unprecedented support you gave me,
I believe that the words of gratitude I said
in the centre of Moscow are not enough. I feel
the need to address you directly, all those who supported me across
Russia, all citizens of Russia.
I believe
that such spectacular civic engagement and your commitment as well
as consolidation are crucially important. Especially today, when we are
facing complex domestic and foreign challenges.
I know
only too well about your problems. You, Russian citizens, are right
to speak about low incomes, faults with the healthcare system,
housing, utilities and other things as well.
The trust
you put in me signifies for me primarily your hope
for a change for the better. I expect that your praise
is related to the work that has been done and those positive
results that we have achieved over the past years.
But
it is not enough, of course. We need to make a real
breakthrough. Your active participation in the election and your
support show that we are ready to carry out such work, as well
as to strive towards achieving such change.
I am
well aware of my enormous responsibility before the citizens
of Russia, before this entire country. Everything I spoke about
in the course of the election campaign must be done.
Of course,
I would like the matters that citizens raised to be addressed
as soon as possible – we will strive to do this. But
promising to solve all these things immediately, right away, to make
the necessary changes simply overnight, would be an absolutely
irresponsible thing to do.
Vladimir Putin addressed
the citizens of Russia following the announcement
of the presidential election official results
by the Central Election Commission.
This
would be nothing but a grand gesture, like showing off something designed
only to have an immediate, short-term effect. What we really need is
consistent, profound change, planned steps that will result
in a stable positive outcome not only today but
in the future as well.
We
will be creating new jobs and increasing the effectiveness
of our economy, increasing the real income of our citizens,
reducing poverty, developing infrastructure and the social sphere –
education and healthcare, addressing environmental and housing
problems, and we will continue to renovate and revamp small
cities and villages. All of this should be based
on a powerful technological breakthrough, which is yet to be
made.
I spoke
about all these matters in the Address to the Federal
Assembly. It is, essentially, a clear, concrete, detailed plan of our
common action. I am sure that it is realistic, right and valid.
At the same
time, I would like to emphasise that all the forthcoming
decisions, even the most difficult ones, will be motivated by one
thing only, the need to eliminate the backlogs that still exist
in various spheres, to ensure the country’s dynamic development
and a brand new quality of life for the people,
as well as to address the historical challenges that we
face today.
And the most
important thing – in the end, all these decisions will be taken
exclusively for the benefit of our country, our citizens, our
children and future generations.
We
will act openly and discuss all our major decisions with the public,
we will also explain why we are acting in this or that way
and we will explain which goals we want to achieve. Let me stress
that our development agenda is meant to be consolidating
and to unite the entire nation.
I would
like to address all public and political forces
in the country. I understand that the logic
of political competition is in criticising those in power, from
the left, from the right, always.
Yes,
criticism, debates and discussions are necessary and important but
they must be free from irresponsible populism. The national interests
and the wellbeing of the people must be the main
guideline for everybody, especially today. It is the ground
for our consolidation and collaborative work.
I want
to address those citizens who voted for other candidates.
I respect your choice and opinion. Political preferences must not
divide us. We are all patriots of our country and we have one common
concern, that of Russia’s future and prosperity.
Our
unity, responsibility, common understanding of goals and aspirations
of millions of people must be turned into Russia’s development
and powerful progress.
Thank
you all once again for your support and trust. I am certain that
together we will succeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment