Putin Moves a Step Closer to a 5th Term as President After Russia Sets 2024 Election Date

Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper chamber, (background C), leads the session of Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in Moscow on Dec. 7, 2023. Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation via AP

Lawmakers in Russia set the country’s 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving Vladimir Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office.

Members of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, voted unanimously Thursday to approve a decree setting the date.