Strengthened for his war and new repressions. Observers, however, expect that the repression will increase after Putin's re-election in order to cement his hold on power.
Putin, who has not allowed any other real opponents to run for president, apparently feels stronger than ever in his almost 25 years in power. The West's criticism of the election is by far the most hotly debated topic in Moscow the day after the vote. Moscow's leadership is also celebrating the result as a failure of the West to influence the election.