President of Russia

President of Russia
Post	President of Russia
Native name	Президент Российской Федерации
Incumbent	Vladimir Putin
Incumbentsince	7 May 2012
Seat	Moscow Kremlin
Appointer	Popular vote
Termlength	Six years, renewable
Formation	10 July 1991
Inaugural	Boris Yeltsin

President of Russia

The President of Russia is the head of state of the Russian Federation, charged with representing Russia internationally and serving as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The office traces its legal basis to the 1993 Constitution and evolved from late-20th-century institutions including the Soviet Union, the RSFSR and the political transformations surrounding the August 1991 coup attempt.

Office and Constitutional Role

The office is established by the 1993 Constitution which delineates the president's role in foreign relations with states such as the United States, China, France, and institutions like the United Nations. The president ratifies international treaties with actors including the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and appoints plenipotentiary envoys to federal districts such as the Central Federal District and Far Eastern Federal District. The office interacts with courts including the Constitutional Court of Russia and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation through appointments and constitutional oversight.

Election and Eligibility

Presidential elections are held under federal law governed by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and supervised amid domestic stakeholders like the State Duma and international observers from organizations such as the OSCE and CIS. Eligibility requirements include citizenship of Russia, minimum age and residency as specified by the 1993 Constitution. Candidates have included figures from parties like United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and movements linked to individuals like Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, and Gennady Zyuganov.

Powers and Duties

Constitutionally enumerated powers include issuing decrees, directing foreign policy, and commanding the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The president appoints the Prime Minister of Russia with approval from the State Duma, chairs the Security Council of Russia, and names members to the Federation Council and federal ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia), Ministry of Defense (Russia), and Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russia). The office can propose legislation to the Federal Assembly (Russia), grant pardons, and confer honors like the Hero of the Russian Federation and orders such as the Order of St. Andrew.

Relationship with Other Government Institutions

The president interacts with the Federal Assembly (Russia) comprising the State Duma and Federation Council (Russia), influencing legislative agendas through vetoes and bill submissions. Executive coordination occurs with the Government of Russia led by the Prime Minister of Russia and ministries such as the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and Ministry of Economic Development (Russia). Judicial relations involve the Constitutional Court of Russia, while regional administration links include heads of republics like Tatarstan and Chechnya as well as governors of oblasts such as Moscow Oblast and Sverdlovsk Oblast.

Residence, Symbols and Insignia

The presidential residence and official workplace is the Moscow Kremlin. Symbols include the presidential standard and emblem used at locations like the Grand Kremlin Palace and during state visits to countries including Germany, Italy, and India. Insignia and awards conferred by the office reference historical orders such as the Order of St. George and contemporary decorations like the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland".

History of the Presidency

The office emerged during the dissolution of the Soviet Union with the creation of the President of the RSFSR and the 1991 election of Boris Yeltsin, preceding constitutional changes after the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis. The late-1990s and 2000s saw contests between political forces including Yabloko, Fatherland–All Russia, and Bloc of Four, while the 2008-2012 period featured an arrangement between Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin affecting tenure rules and the 2008 Russian presidential election. International events intersecting with the presidency include the First Chechen War, Second Chechen War, the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation (2014), and interactions with leaders such as George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron, and Xi Jinping.

List of Presidents and Acting Presidents

Notable holders include inaugural officeholder Boris Yeltsin, successors Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, and several acting incumbents appointed during transitions such as Viktor Chernomyrdin (acting in other executive roles) and interim arrangements following resignations or impeachments. The sequence of presidencies reflects electoral contests and constitutional amendments affecting terms, with state institutions like the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation certifying results and the Constitutional Court of Russia adjudicating disputes.

Category:Politics of Russia