Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/523/3856
From The Socialist newspaper, 4 March 2008
Russian election
IN A completely anticipated result, Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, was elected Russia's president with a 'landslide' vote last Sunday. Medvedev won 70% of the vote with his nearest challenger Gennady Zyuganov of the 'communist' party securing 18%.
Putin's regime went to great lengths to ensure the result. Medvedev's main opponent, the former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, was ruled out of the contest. Putin's man also enjoyed a near monopoly of TV coverage and celebrity endorsements. The heads of state institutions, factory bosses, etc, 'encouraged' workers to vote for Medvedev.
Putin, having been constitutionally prevented from standing for a third term, will now become prime minister, effectively continuing to run Russia with Medvedev as a proxy.
Putin boasts that he has brought stability and prosperity and restored Russia's national pride after the president Yeltsin years - in which the restoration of capitalism spelt disaster for most people's living standards as industry collapsed, culminating in the economic meltdown of 1998.
However, while a pro-Putin billionaire oligarchy has benefitted from the country's recovery, this upswing has bypassed most Russians.
More material on Russia will appear on www.socialistworld.net
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In The Socialist 4 March 2008:
Greenwich workers score victory against single status
Angry civil servants strike over pay
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Thousands protest at threats to hospital
International Women's Day
Fight for a woman's right to choose
Anti-War
Sheffield activists fight militarism
Environment and socialism
Walthamstow 'RAPpers' against toxic incinerators
Socialist Party news and analysis
Meet Brown's new finance expert
International socialist news and analysis
Turkey's invasion destabilising region
Workplace news and analysis
Unison witch-hunt: Members bite back
Teachers must reject real pay cuts
Greenwich workers fight attacks
Socialist Party member stands for Unite (T&G) general executive
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