Putin on track for commanding win as Russians head to polls

[rooster59]

Putin on track for commanding win as Russians head to polls

 

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the audience during a rally marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

 

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Russia (Reuters) - Russians began voting in a presidential election on Sunday set to give Vladimir Putin a commanding victory that could only be blemished if large numbers do not bother taking part because the result is so predictable.

 

On Russia's eastern edge, in the Pacific coast city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, polling stations opened at 2000 hrs GMT, and voting across the vast country will run until polls close at the westernmost point, the Kaliningrad region, 22 hours later.

 

Opinion polls give Putin, the incumbent, support of around 70 percent, or nearly 10 times the backing of his nearest challenger.

Another term will take him to nearly a quarter century in power — a longevity among Kremlin leaders second only to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

 

Many voters credit Putin, a 65-year-old former KGB spy, with standing up for Russia's interests in a hostile outside world, even though the cost is confrontation with the West.

 

A row with Britain over allegations the Kremlin used a nerve toxin to poison a Russian double agent in a sleepy English town — denied by Moscow — has not dented his standing.

 

The majority of voters see no viable alternative to Putin: he has total dominance of the political scene and the state-run television, where most people get their news, gives lavish coverage of Putin and little airtime to his rivals.

 

"He (Putin) is our president. We take pride in him," said Marianna Shanina, a resident of the Crimea region. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine four years ago, earning Putin admiration from many Russians and condemnation from the West.

 

"We wish him victory at the election. Our whole family will vote for Putin. Putin! Good health to you, beloved president!," Shanina said at a Putin election rally.

 

SHOO-IN CONTEST

 

A March 9 survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM gave Putin, who was first elected president in 2000, support of 69 percent. His nearest rival Pavel Grudinin, the Communist Party's candidate, is on just 7 percent.

 

The first politician in years to challenge the Kremlin's grip on power, Alexei Navalny, is barred from the race because of a corruption conviction he says was fabricated by the Kremlin.

 

He is calling for a boycott of the election, saying it is an undemocratic farce, and deploying supporters to collect evidence of anyone rigging the ballot to inflate turnout and support for Putin. The Kremlin and election officials say any fraud will be stamped out.

 

Kremlin officials privately acknowledge a worry that some of Russia's 110 million eligible voters will not bother casting ballots because they believe Putin is a shoo-in. A low turnout would diminish his authority in his next term, which, under the constitution, has to be his last.

 

"There is no intrigue. I do not see any point for me in going to the election," said Alexei Khvorostov, a resident of Krasnodar, in southern Russia.

 

In an address to the nation broadcast on national television on Friday, Putin said voters held the fate of the country in their hands.

 

"I therefore ask you to come to the polling stations on Sunday, use your right to choose a future for the great Russia that we love."

 

In Khabarovsk region, on Russia's Pacific coast, local officials delivered supplies of eggs, tinned peas, and frozen pike to polling stations. It will be sold to voters on polling day at a discount of between 10 and 30 percent compared to prices in local shops.

 

"By doing this we hope to attract voters to the polling stations and we think we can increase turnout," said Nikolai Kretsu, chairman of the consumer market committee in the regional administration. "The second objective is to strengthen allegiance towards the authorities."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-18

[mtls2005]

Trump will be so jealous: Putin gets 70% of the popular vote and 25 years in office.

 

I'm actually surprised it's that low, I would have expected a 90-ish percent figure?

[StraightTalk]

Well, we wouldn't want a frail leader upsetting the equilibrium of super powers.

[juice777]

Trump will be so jealous: Putin gets 70% of the popular vote and 25 years in office.
 
I'm actually surprised it's that low, I would have expected a 90-ish percent figure?

And now he's just finished beating his chest with the UK it will probably be higher.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[buick]

50 years from now, will any recent (say last 30 yrs) leaders of nations be considered as equal or greater than putin in terms of being the face of a nation ?   i assume mandela will still be on the list.  but i don't see many candidates from western nations, partially because they don't rule for as long has putin has/will.  putin's name, for good or bad, is going to be in the history books for a long, long time.

[Jingthing]

50 years from now, will any recent (say last 30 yrs) leaders of nations be considered as equal or greater than putin in terms of being the face of a nation ?   i assume mandela will still be on the list.  but i don't see many candidates from western nations, partially because they don't rule for as long has putin has/will.  putin's name, for good or bad, is going to be in the history books for a long, long time.

Yeah. Like Stalin. Doesn't mean he's good.

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[Jingthing]

Congrats to Vlad. Condolences to the non existent democracy in Russia.

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[Jingthing]

Trump will be so jealous: Putin gets 70% of the popular vote and 25 years in office.
 
I'm actually surprised it's that low, I would have expected a 90-ish percent figure?

It's not a real election.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[buick]

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah. Like Stalin. Doesn't mean he's good.

it is pretty clear that putin has replaced stalin as the face of russia forever.  and he did it by taking a failed state and turning it into a successful nation.  perhaps not how the west considers 'success' but certainly success by the measure of other nations run by so called 'dictators'.  we will never see all countries in the world as corrupt free democracies.  we need to accept this fact and move on with life.  leaving russia (and china) to enjoy the way they  operate without our input/criticism.

 

 

[Jingthing]

it is pretty clear that putin has replaced stalin as the face of russia forever.  and he did it by taking a failed state and turning it into a successful nation.  perhaps not how the west considers 'success' but certainly success by the measure of other nations run by so called 'dictators'.  we will never see all countries in the world as corrupt free democracies.  we need to accept this fact and move on with life.  leaving russia (and china) to enjoy the way they  operate without our input/criticism.
 
 

I call B.S. That murderous dictator meddled in the U.S. election and arguably may have been decisive in putting a ridiculous president in office. He continues with such toxic actions to this day. I accept Russians supposedly loving their dictator. It's a culture that never really embraced democracy in the first place. I can't celebrate Putin. As far as I'm concerned he's a serious enemy of democracies in many countries. He wants to convince his own people that all democracies are as bad as his fake one. With the U. S. now his dangerous argument is strengthened.

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[buick]

38 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I call B.S. That murderous dictator meddled in the U.S. election and arguably may have been decisive in putting a ridiculous president in office. He continues with such toxic actions to this day. I accept Russians supposedly loving their dictator. It's a culture that never really embraced democracy in the first place. I can't celebrate Putin. As far as I'm concerned he's a serious enemy of democracies in many countries. He wants to convince his own people that all democracies are as bad as his fake one. With the U. S. now his dangerous argument is strengthened.

i'm an american so i'm with you on the election issue.  whether putin's meddling had an impact or not is questionable but a direct 'attack' on the US does require input/criticism.  i was referring more to putin's normal sphere of influence (which hopefully doesn't include the USA). 

[Jingthing]

I can't get behind what he did and continues to do in Ukraine and Syria. I think he's a real menace. I get that he's promoting Russian power but at what cost.

 

 

There was an interesting item on the msm about Putin’s strongest supporters are in regions that have seen no material benefits during his entire time in power. They go for the toxic nationalism.

 

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[Thakkar]

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Russians head to polls

 

This “election” is a real nail biter.

[Johnniey]

54 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Wow indeed.

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Good response

 

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, Thakkar said:

 

This “election” is a real nail biter.

More like yet another nail in the coffin of democracy in Russia. 

[Jingthing]

So who won? Will there need to be a recount? 

[InMyShadow]

Some countries just work better without a real democracy. Of course real is defined by the murican version that the murican expats cling to . Russia and Thailand are perfect examples.

[janclaes47]

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So who won? Will there need to be a recount? 

 

I don't think there is a democrat party in Russia, so no recounts for sure

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Some countries just work better without a real democracy. Of course real is defined by the murican version that the murican expats cling to . Russia and Thailand are perfect examples.

No thinking American thinks the American democracy is currently the ideal to aspire to. It's a flawed democracy if you look at it objectively. There are better ones. But Russia is NOT a democracy. This Putin election theater is a big sad joke. Of course the reason dictators stage fake elections is to give their total power some superficial LEGITIMACY. That's why it's well understood that Putin is trying for a large turnout. A landslide is definite, but a healthy turnout isn't.

 

 Won't comment on Thailand -- verboten. 

Edited March 18, 2018 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

 

I don't think there is a democrat party in Russia, so no recounts for sure

What are you on about? Never mind, not really interested. 

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.  

 

[Jingthing]

So, big "surprising" news -- dictator Putin got a massive super majority but also a strong turnout. Under the unofficial goal of 70 percent turnout but strong enough for Russian jazz. Just how did dictator Putin get such a strong turnout? Hmm. Do you think this racist and homophobic t.v. ad helped?