Russian Presidential "Election" - March 2, 2008

[Middle-aged Europe]

Oh, what an unpredictable surprise.

Proposed Medvedev campaign slogan: "Putin for PM 2008!"

[Middle-aged Europe]

Filing deadline for the presidential election was on December 16. The following candidates were officially registered by the Electoral Commission:


Andrei Bogdanov, leader of the Democratic Party of Russia

Mikhail Kasyanov, former prime minister (2000-04) and leader of the People's Democratic Union

Dmitry Medvedev, current deputy prime minister and presidential candidate of United Russia (also supported by Fair Russia, the Agrarian Party of Russia and Civilian Power)

Boris Nemtsov, former deputy prime minister (1997-98) and presidential candidate of the Union of Right Forces

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, deputy speaker of the State Duma as well as leader and former presidential candidate (1991, 1996, 2000) of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia

Gennady Zyuganov, leader and former presidential candidate (1996 & 2000) of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation



Medvedev is Putin's candidate, Zyuganov a communist and Zhirinovsky an ultra-nationalist. Bogdanov, Kasyanov and Nemtsov are more or less "liberal" and pro-Western candidates.

Maybe with the exception of Zhirinovsky (and of course Medvedev) all candidates stand in opposition to the Kremlin.

[Middle-aged Europe]

UPDATE:

I read somewhere that candidates whose parties do not have seats in the Duma are required to turn in two million (!) signatures of supporters until some date in January.

This new regulation applies to Bogdanov, Kasyanov and Nemtsov. So it's still possible that any of those three candidate could be stricken off the ballot in the end. However, at this point no further candidates can be added to the six I have mentioned.

So, Medvedev, Zhirinovsky and Zyuganov will be on the ballot under all circumstances and Bogdanov, Kasyanov as well as Nemtsov might be on the ballot.

[Kevinstat]

So there might just be a Putinist, a fascist and a communist on the ballot?  That's great.  (Sarcasm)

[Middle-aged Europe]

So there might just be a Putinist, a fascist and a communist on the ballot?  That's great.  (Sarcasm)

Well, if two of the three are eliminated this might actually be a good thing in a way. At least the "liberal/pro-Western" wouldn't be split between three candidates.

[Reaganfan]

Why do Russians like this guy? Time magazine made him Person of the year and said he was LOVED in Russia. He might be liked or even loved but I think there will be an upset.

[Hash]

Why do Russians like this guy? Time magazine made him Person of the year and said he was LOVED in Russia. He might be liked or even loved but I think there will be an upset.

Lol at your cluelessness on Russia.

[Reaganfan]

How am I clueless? Upsets happen. Look at the Soviet Union. Did anyone think that would happen? I think we need to get someone into our Presidency to make sure we can cause a breakup over there just like Reagan and Bush did with the Soviet Union. I think people like Giuliano, McCain, Edwards and Hunter would be tough on Russians trying to become strong again.

[Hash]

This is Putin's Russia, not US elections. As much as Americans love to think the American system is followed the world over, it's not.

[Reaganfan]

Oh. Upsets are just in American elections? I know the rest of the world is predictable with a lot of things (France opposes wars, Iran wants to bomb places, etc.) but surprises can't happen?

[Hash]

Not in current day Russia. At least not in elections

[Reaganfan]

Oh ok.

[Colin]

The elections in Russia are, for all intents and purposes, rigged to favour Putin loyalists and Putin's political party. No there will not be any upsets, Dmitri Medvedev will win with probably somewhere between 65 and 75 percent of the vote.

[Tender Branson]

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Dmitry Medvedev is the clear frontrunner in Russia’s presidential race, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 45 per cent of respondents would vote for the pro-Kremlin contender in next year’s ballot.

Communist Party (KPRF) leader Gennady Zyuganov and Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky are tied for second place with five per cent, while just one per cent of respondents would vote for either former prime minister Mikhail Fradkov or Boris Nemtsov of the Union of Right Forces (SPS).

Vladimir Putin was elected to a second term as president in March 2004 with 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. In April 2005, Putin ruled out seeking a new mandate, saying, "I will not change the constitution and in line with the constitution, you cannot run for president three times in a row." The next presidential election in Russia is scheduled for Mar. 2, 2008.

Earlier this month, Putin endorsed current deputy prime minister Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as head of government.

Medvedev has served as deputy prime minister since November 2005. 55 per cent of respondents expect Medvedev to earn a substantial victory in the election.

Yesterday, Medvedev discussed some of his priorities, saying, "The set of measures may be changing, but it is obvious that the projects will remain, because there is still much work to do. (...) It is necessary to transfer to full-fledged, complex decisions and actively use the accumulated experience for the modernization of the corresponding sectors."

Polling Data

If the presidential election were conducted this Sunday, which of these candidates would you vote for?

Dmitry Medvedev: 45%
Vladimir Zhirinovsky: 5%
Gennady Zyuganov: 5%
Boris Nemtsov: 1%
Mikhail Fradkov: 1%
Other: 5%
Would not vote: 8%
Hard to answer: 30%

Source: All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center

Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. 2007.

Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29463/putin_backed_medvedev_leads_in_russian_ballot

[jokerman]

Why do Russians like this guy? Time magazine made him Person of the year and said he was LOVED in Russia. He might be liked or even loved but I think there will be an upset.

Quite simply -competency.  The man has rebuilt Russia by sheer force of will.  And I suppose the massive oil revenues didn't hurt.  That is the key.  Putin won't lose popularity unless the economy halts from its current boom.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Boris Nemtsov has dropped out of the race, urging the democratic opposition to unite behind a single candidate. He also sort of endorsed Kasyanov, I think.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/26/europe/EU-GEN-Russia-Presidential-Election.php


This leaves a total of five candidates for the presidential election.

[Hash]

Oh the surprise:

Dmitry Medvedev 79%
Gennady Zyuganov 9%
Vladimir Zhirinovsky 9%
Mikhail Kasyanov 2%
 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The man has rebuilt Russia by sheer force of will.

Nonsense.

[Medvedev]

Second Round:

Dmitry Medvedev: 51%
Sergei Ivanov: 49%

So, the next President of Russia will either be Putin's current deputy prime minister... or Putin's current deputy prime minister (the other one).

You do need real complex democratic process don't you?

[Middle-aged Europe]

Second Round:

Dmitry Medvedev: 51%
Sergei Ivanov: 49%

So, the next President of Russia will either be Putin's current deputy prime minister... or Putin's current deputy prime minister (the other one).

You do need real complex democratic process don't you?

Well, "fortunately" Putin has narrowed it down to only one of his deputy prime ministers...

[Hash]

Second Round:

Dmitry Medvedev: 51%
Sergei Ivanov: 49%

So, the next President of Russia will either be Putin's current deputy prime minister... or Putin's current deputy prime minister (the other one).

You do need real complex democratic process don't you?

Democratic? Lol.

[Medvedev]

Second Round:

Dmitry Medvedev: 51%
Sergei Ivanov: 49%

So, the next President of Russia will either be Putin's current deputy prime minister... or Putin's current deputy prime minister (the other one).

You do need real complex democratic process don't you?

Democratic? Lol.

Bush junior, Clinton wife?
Democracy exists? Can you tell me where please.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Second Round:

Dmitry Medvedev: 51%
Sergei Ivanov: 49%

So, the next President of Russia will either be Putin's current deputy prime minister... or Putin's current deputy prime minister (the other one).

You do need real complex democratic process don't you?

Democratic? Lol.

Bush junior, Clinton wife?
Democracy exists? Can you tell me where please.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_wrongs_make_a_right

[Hash]

Second Round:

Dmitry Medvedev: 51%
Sergei Ivanov: 49%

So, the next President of Russia will either be Putin's current deputy prime minister... or Putin's current deputy prime minister (the other one).

You do need real complex democratic process don't you?

Democratic? Lol.

Bush junior, Clinton wife?
Democracy exists? Can you tell me where please.

It does, but not in Russia currently.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Development of the poll results:




Will Medvedev break 90% on March 2?