2012 Russian presidential election — election held in Russia on 4 March 2012
Vladimir Putin won a third presidential term with 63.6% of the vote, the first election under a new six-year presidential term.
Key Facts
- Election date
- 4 March 2012
- Putin's vote share
- 63.6%
- Registered candidates
- 5
- New presidential term length
- 6 years (previously 4)
- OSCE negative count assessment
- Nearly one-third of polling stations
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
At the United Russia congress on 24 September 2011, President Dmitry Medvedev proposed that Vladimir Putin stand for the presidency in 2012, a role swap arrangement under which Medvedev would become prime minister. Constitutional amendments passed in 2008 had extended the presidential term from four to six years, applying for the first time to this election.
On 4 March 2012, Russian voters chose from five registered candidates in the presidential election. Putin, running as a nominal independent backed by United Russia, secured 63.6% of the vote, winning outright in the first round. OSCE observers gave a generally positive assessment of voting on election day but found procedural irregularities in vote counting at nearly a third of monitored polling stations.
Putin secured a third overall presidential term and returned to the Kremlin, while Medvedev assumed the role of prime minister. The election result consolidated Putin's political dominance, though the OSCE's criticism of counting irregularities and wider protests raised questions about the integrity of Russian electoral processes.
Political Outcome
Vladimir Putin elected president with 63.6% of the vote, winning a third overall term under a new six-year mandate.
Dmitry Medvedev as president, Vladimir Putin as prime minister
Vladimir Putin as president, Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister