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Medvedev Projected Winner of March 2, 2008 Presidential Election in Russia

By Andis Kaulins

So, you have an opinion on Russia? How about United Russia?

United Russia is Russia's leading political party and it supports Dmitry Medvedev in tomorrow's Russian Presidential election.

News reports about that election can be found at Russian Elections News.

The election has been sized up as follows:

"In his first speech since he was endorsed, Medvedev announced that, as President, he would appoint Vladimir Putin to the post of prime minister to head the Russian government. Although constitutionally barred from a third consecutive presidential term, such a role would allow Putin to continue as a national leader[ (the constitution would also allow him to return to the presidency later if he so chose). Some analysts have been quick to point out that such a statement shows that Medvedev recognizes that he would only be a figurehead president. Putin has pledged that he would accept the position of prime minister should Medvedev be elected president. Although Putin has pledged not to change the distribution of authority between president and prime minister, many analysts are expecting a shift in the center of power from the presidency to the prime minister post should Putin assume the latter under a Medvedev presidency. Election posters have portrayed the pair side-by-side with the slogan "Together we will win" ("?????? ???????")."

Medvedev, according to current polls, should win about 73% of the vote. Liu Yifang writes inter alia at Xinhua.net:

"Under Putin's eight-year leadership, Russia has revitalized....

[Medvedev and Putin - photo Xinhua - see more photos here]
Putin is widely popular among the people.... Under Putin, real wages have tripled and unemployment has fallen sharply....

After long years of collaboration, Putin regarded Medvedev as an honest, efficient and mature statesman with modern and independent thinking -- the one that fits Putin's criteria. Putin said he didn't need to be "shamed or worried" about passing him the highest power of the state. "He will be a good president," Putin said.

Medvedev has promised to continue Putin's policies if he is elected president and he would appoint Putin prime minister, which has been accepted by the president."

Read more at Xinhua.net.

Full post as published by LawPundit on March 01, 2008 (boomark / email).