普京開始第四次俄羅斯總統任期

Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn in to a fourth term on Monday, extending his 18-year rule amid promises of continuity in foreign policy and renewed efforts toward building prosperity at home.

During his swearing in ceremony at the gilded Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin assured Russians that his rule had “revived pride” in the country.

As head of state, I will do all I can to multiply the strength and prosperity of Russia,” Putin told a packed room of Russia's political and culture elite. “The object of my life and my work will be to serve the people and the fatherland.”

Kremlin officials had hinted that this year's ceremony would be more modest than his 2012 inauguration — which critics mocked over a decision to clear Moscow's streets for the arrival of Putin's motorcade. Televised images of Putin and his bodyguards alone in the streets of the capital seemed only to emphasize the Russian president had lost touch with the public.

Instead, this year's inauguration found the Russian leader diligently working at his desk when a call came notifying him the time to take the oath of office had come.

As Putin donned his jacket and made his way to the ceremony, television viewers were treated to another surprise: he would now travel to official events in a Russian-built limousine rather than his traditional Mercedes.俄羅斯總統普京星期一宣誓就職，第四次作爲總統繼續他18年的統治。普京承諾保持對外政策的連續性，並展開新的努力建設俄羅斯的繁榮。

普京在克里姆林宮鍍金的安德列耶夫斯基大廳宣誓就職，他在儀式上講話說，在他的領導下，俄羅斯“恢復了自豪感”。

他對着大廳裏雲集的俄羅斯政治文化精英們說，“作爲國家元首，我將盡我所能來加倍提升俄羅斯的實力和繁榮。”他說，“我的生活和工作目標將是爲祖國和人民服務。”

克里姆林宮官員暗示說，普京今年的就職典禮比2012年的要低調很多。當時做出了莫斯科街頭清場以迎接普京車隊的決定。批評人士嘲笑說，普京和他的保鏢孤零零在首都街頭的電視圖像似乎只能強調俄羅斯總統已經與公衆失去聯繫。

相反，今年舉行就職典禮時，這位俄羅斯領導人在他的辦公桌前努力工作，直到得到通知到了宣誓就職的時間。

當普京穿上外套進入現場時，電視觀衆又看到一個驚喜：他現在乘坐俄羅斯製造的豪華轎車而不是他以往的奔馳車參加正式活動。