Vladimir Putin calls for Russian unity after two decades in power

Vladimir Putin called on Russians to unite for the sake of the country’s future in a new year’s address.

Russian President Vladimir Putin before delivering his New Year’s address in Moscow. Picture: AFP

Vladimir Putin called on Russians to unite for the sake of the country’s future in a new year’s address that marked two decades since his ascent to power.

Appearing in front of the Kremlin for a message to be broadcast just before midnight, the 67-year-old President spoke to Russians for the 16th time since Boris Yeltsin’s shock new year’s resignation in 1999.

“We live in an eventful, ­dynamic and controversial time, but we must do everything to make sure Russia develops success­fully,” said Mr Putin, dressed in a black coat.

“Only together can we solve the problems ahead for the country, for our society. Our unity is the foundation for accomplishing the highest of goals.’’

Mr Putin said he looked ­forward to celebrating the 75th anniversar­y this year of Russia’s World War II victory, and thanked veterans.

Moscow plans to host world leaders during festivities on May 9, one of Russia’s biggest official holidays­. An address to the nation from leaders in Moscow has been a tradition since the 1970s.

In Moscow, Russians celebrating on New Year’s Eve watch the speech just before a live broadcast of the Kremlin clock striking midnight and a spectacular fireworks display.

Yeltsin’s address on December 31, 1999, shocked his compatriots as he announced it would be the last time he would be delivering the message and handed power over to Mr Putin, an ex-KGB agent and his then prime minister.

Yeltsin, who had suffered several heart attacks and battled with alcohol, struggled visibly as he said Russia needed to “enter the new millennium with new politicians”.

Mr Putin then appeared seated in front of a decorated tree, vowing there would be no “vacuum” in power in Russia. He has since held a firm grip on the country, staying on as prime minister when his ally Dmitry Medvedev took the presidency in 2008 for four years.

Meanwhile, in Paris, French President ­Emmanuel Macron called for a “rapid compromise” with unions over a pensions overhaul that has sparked one of the country’s biggest transport strikes in decades.

But in his keenly watched new year’s address, Mr Macron gave no sign that he would back down on the plan, saying “the pension ­reform will be carried out”.

While acknowledging concerns about the plan, not least that it could require people to work longer, Mr Macron said “these worries cannot lead us to inaction”.

“That would be abandoning those who the system has abandoned, youths who would pay the price for our inaction,” he said in an 18-minute address.

The pension overhaul, a centrepiece of Mr Macron’s sweeping plan to reform the French economy and institutions, would sweep away 42 separate schemes for a single system the government says would be fairer and more sustainable. But unions baulk at a new “pivot age” of 64 at which workers would qualify for a full pension, ­beyond the official retiremen­t age of 62.

Since December 5, the strikes have crippled train and metro services across the country, proving a key test of Mr Macron’s ability to implement his vow to reform France after coming to power in 2017.

His call for a “Christmas truce” during the strike went unheeded, upending travel plans for tens of thousands of people, and unions have vowed not to back down ahead of new talks with the government set for Tuesday.

Another day of mass protests is set for next Thursday, when teachers, dockers, hospital workers and other public-sector employees are expected to join the strike.

AFP