Putin will keep Volodin as speaker of the Russian State Duma for a third consecutive term

Vyacheslav Volodin will retain his position as chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation for the new convocation for a third consecutive term. The final decision will be formalized by dictator Vladimir Putin before the first plenary session. 

If his term is extended, Volodin will set a record, as no politician in Russia has ever served as speaker of the lower house of parliament for more than two consecutive terms. 

In the most recent so-called elections, he ran as a candidate for the ruling “United Russia” party and has headed the State Duma for ten years now.

Previously, Volodin held positions in the government and the Russian presidential administration, where he was responsible for domestic policy and electoral processes. Shortly before the vote, he called on Russians to unite in the war against Ukraine and acknowledged problems with fuel supplies due to successful strikes on Russian oil refineries.

This was reported by RBC, citing sources in the presidential administration and among Russian officials.

Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Russian State Duma, urged Russians not to complain about fuel shortages and stated that “unity” should be the top priority right now. According to him, any criticism of the authorities allegedly means that a person is “switching sides.”

Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Russian State Duma, stated that Japan should bear in mind that Russia possesses nuclear weapons and should refrain from “confrontational rhetoric” regarding territorial claims to the Kuril Islands.