The Hindu : Front Page : Medvedev heads for huge win in Russia

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Medvedev heads for huge win in Russia

Vladimir Radyuhin

He is on course to win two-thirds of votes cast

— Photo: AFP

The chosen one: Russia’s Presidential candidate Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana enter a polling station in Moscow on Sunday.

MOSCOW: Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin’s preferred candidate, appears to have swept Russia’s presidential election, winning about two-thirds of the votes cast.

With 15 per cent of the ballots counted, Mr. Medvedev received 64.55 per cent of the votes. An exit poll gave him 67.4 per cent of the votes. If the early trend holds, he will be declared winner and there will be no run-off. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov came second with 19.5 per cent of the votes, trailed by ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky with 10.5 per cent and political newcomer Andrei Bogdanov with 1.4 per cent.

A higher than expected turnout was registered in Sunday’s poll as voters cast their ballots to choose Mr. Putin’s successor. The Constitution barred Mr. Putin from running, after serving two consecutive terms, but he is expected to retain power as Prime Minister.

Election officials estimated that close to 70 per cent of the 109 million registered voters had come to the polling stations — more than that in the December parliamentary poll or in the previous presidential election four years ago. The high voter turnout is regarded important for emphasising the credibility of Mr. Medvedev’s victory.

Sunday’s vote followed a remarkably subdued and uneventful campaign that lacked intrigue, as Mr. Medvedev had been a hot favourite to win ever since Mr. Putin named him as his preferred choice of successor three months ago. And when Mr. Putin agreed to become Prime Minister in the new government, Mr. Medvedev’s election rating became virtually unassailable against his three rivals.

Many people who voted for Mr. Medvedev said they were hoping for “stability,” “continuity” and a “better life.” These have been the central themes of Mr. Medvedev’s campaign.

“We need political stability, we need to keep improving people’s lives, develop the economy, ensure reliable protection of Russia’s sovereignty and protect citizens’ freedoms,” Mr. Medvedev said addressing an election rally last week.

Mr. Putin’s huge popularity after eight highly successful years in office has been the main factor behind Mr. Medvedev’s expected victory. Under Mr. Putin’s guidance, the economy has been growing at about 7 per cent, people’s incomes have doubled and Russia has reasserted itself as a global power.

After casting his ballot at a Moscow polling station, Mr. Medvedev said he was in a good mood.

“Spring has come. The season has changed,” he told reporters.

Even as he pledged to continue Mr. Putin’s policies, Mr. Medvedev campaigned on a distinctly more liberal platform. He called for more freedom, for an independent judiciary, independent public television, a strong multi-party system and parliamentary oversight of the executive branch.

At the same time, Mr. Putin said Mr. Medvedev’s election platform was “essentially a continuation of my strategy” and both vowed to work in close tandem.

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