According to RIA Novosti, on November 30, Vladimir Putin spoke at the forum “Russia Calling!”, where he touched on topics and problems that concern society and shared some results on the work of the authorities.
The president drew attention to the problem of inflation in the country. He stressed that the government must work to stop price increases, since this problem is “the most sensitive for citizens”. To achieve the result, Putin suggests increasing domestic production of goods.
In the speech, the Head of State also raised the problem of a new strain of coronavirus called «Ommicron». The President commented on this new spiral in the fight against the Chinese virus:
“In the coming weeks it will become clear how serious the consequences of the new strain are. It is clear, however, that one must be prepared for any change in the virus. First of all, we need to constantly monitor the effectiveness of tests and vaccines, use clear algorithms to reduce the spread of infection”, – Putin’s words are transmitted to RIA Novosti.
Some measures have already been taken by the government at the request of the president. The PCR test will now only be valid for 48 hours from the time of submission. Communication with countries where the new strain has spread significantly has also been restricted. Particularly South Africa, home of “omicron”.
Putin was also asked about the next presidential term. The president replied that he had not yet decided whether he would be a candidate in the next election. He also stressed the fact that his ability to run for another term would “stabilize the domestic political situation”.
He also commented on the country’s economic news. Putin noted that the unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent. The same number of people without jobs was before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The president also emphasized the growth of GDP (gross domestic product). It grew by about 4.5 percent.
“The Russian economy has already exceeded the pre-crisis level thanks to responsible, calculated actions of the state and business. <…> At the end of the year, it (GDP) is projected to grow by 4.2%”, – quote the President of RIA Novosti.
