Putin faces selected questions for the first time since the start of the war
Every year at Christmas time, Putin normally presents himself as a great popular philosopher and answers the questions of his citizens. In 2022, however, "The Direct Line" was canceled. The Kremlin leader probably wanted to avoid uncomfortable questions about the war in Ukraine. This year, the Russian president seems braver.
After a break last year due to the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold his first major press conference again today. The question and answer session for journalists will be combined as a media spectacle on state television with the TV show "The Direct Line", in which citizens can describe their problems, for the "Results of the Year" program. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Q&A session would begin at around noon Moscow time (10 a.m. CET).
State media reported in advance that more than one and a half million questions had been submitted. The attention for the major media event is not only high because of Putin's devastating war of aggression against Ukraine. It is the first time since the beginning of the invasion that he has made a statement in such a TV format. The Kremlin leader also wants to be elected president for the fifth time on March 17. He had the constitution amended specifically for this purpose.
Traditionally, the press conference and the public consultation were held separately. The country's many problems, such as poverty, social hardship, complaints about healthcare and a lack of infrastructure, are repeatedly brought up. Putin, who has led the country for more than a quarter of a century, repeatedly uses the public consultation to present himself as a problem solver and caretaker. Critics accuse him of asking the same questions over and over again - without improving the situation.
War, pension and salary
Sociologists from the independent Russian opinion research institute Levada have determined that most people would like to know from Putin when the war will end. In recent representative surveys, they also found that more and more Russians are in favor of the start of peace negotiations.
In second place were questions about pensions and their amount, according to the Levada survey published at the beginning of December. According to the survey, many senior citizens asked when they would finally be able to lead "a normal life". In third place was the question to Putin: "When will there be normal salaries?" Anyone who works full-time for a whole month in Russia only receives the equivalent of a few hundred euros on average.
Around three hours of airtime are planned. However, Putin's spokesman Peskov said that there was no time limit. Several streets in the city center near the Kremlin have been closed off as part of massive security precautions.
Only hand-picked journalists invited
Due to his war of aggression against Ukraine, Putin canceled the press conference last December, which is always scheduled to last several hours, for the first time in ten years. At the time, observers were convinced that Putin wanted to avoid questions from international journalists - in view of the war against Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022, where his army had suffered repeated defeats. Since then, Putin has become increasingly confident that he will win the war.
The national television talk show "Direct Line", where citizens can normally make complaints to Putin in person every year, was also canceled last year. It was last organized on 30 June 2021. In recent months, Putin has repeatedly responded to questions from journalists loyal to the party line who accompany him on his travels or meet him in the Kremlin. Independent media have not been allowed to attend such meetings for a long time.
Unlike Putin's previous press conferences at the end of the year, there was no official accreditation procedure this time. The Kremlin only issued invitations to hand-picked journalists.
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During the Q&A session, journalists may potentially ask Russian President Vladimir Putin about his plans for de-escalating the ongoing 'Attack on Ukraine'. The war's impact on domestic issues, such as pension and salary increases, could also be a topic of discussion given that they are among the top concerns for Russian citizens, according to a Levada survey.
Source: www.ntv.de
