https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/1750/9392db55-3b9d-450b-b8a0-9c29a74e039a/image.png
Russians voted in a presidential election on Sunday that was expected to give Vladimir Putin an easy victory, but his opponents alleged officials were compelling people to come to the polls so that a low turnout does not tarnish the win.
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 what they view as a hostile outside world.
Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region, alleged Kremlin meddling in the U.S. presidential election, and Moscow’s bombing campaign in Syria, have been condemned in the West. But for most people at home, they have only burnished Putin’s reputation as a strong leader.
A row with Britain over allegations the Kremlin used a nerve toxin to poison a Russian double agent in a sleepy English city — denied by Moscow — has not dented Putin’s standing. [L3N1R009A]
“I voted for Putin,” said Lyubov Kachan, a teacher in the settlement of Ust-Djeguta, in southern Russia.
“If anything is not going our way right now, that’s thanks to the world which treats us so negatively, while he is trying to stand up to that,” she said.
The only real headache for Putin’s campaign was the possibility many voters, including Putin supporters, would not bother to come to the polls because they felt the outcome was already a foregone conclusion.
Putin opponents alleged employers with close ties to the state were ordering staff to go and vote, and send back evidence.
Reuters reporters witnessed multiple people in different locations voting in groups, and then taking photos of themselves in front of the ballot boxes on their phones. Some arrived at polling stations on board private-hire buses. [L8N1R01JM]
In polling station 1515 in Zelenodolsk, 800 km (500 miles) east of Moscow, five people photographed themselves voting. Asked by a Reuters reporter why, one of the group, a young woman, said: “What do you mean why? It’s a photographic report for our bosses.”
At polling station number 216 in Ust-Djeguta, Marina Kostina was supervising two teenage girls who were photographing voters. Asked why one woman was photographed, Kostina said: “Her work asked her to report back.”
Turnout nationwide was at 51.9 percent by 1400 GMT, official data showed. A low turnout would diminish Putin’s authority within the ruling elite, which is founded in large part on his ability to mobilize the public behind him.
Nina Bostanova, a pensioner in Ust-Djeguta, said she decided not to vote. “What’s the point? They’ll get elected anyway. Why go and vote?” she said.
Putin on track for commanding win as Russians head to polls | Re..
I'm rooting for Jeb!
We all know the results already.
Fingers crossed that they can hit 150% turnout this year!
voting will end in ~3 hours
Russia's Presidential Elections, Live From Moscow
Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, is living up to its reputation, with observers and commenters flagging a variety of electoral violations.
At one polling station, a journalist was attacked while filming. At another, camera footage shows repeated ballot stuffing.
https://twitter.com/MBKhMedia/status/975367877783183361
jeez
Why can't they just call him the Tsar already
jeb wins
Russian FPers, how is it over there? Is there any real opposition/unrest against Putin?
Putin with overwhelming 124% of votes going to him wins another presidental "candidature", reinforcing his title of president for life.
That they're this worried over Putin's win being a foregone conclusion makes me wonder what would happen in Russian politics if he decided to retire. Would everything just collapse in on itself? Seems plausible considering the cult following Putin has.
I want to wish all the nominees good luck and at the same time congratulate Mr Putin to his clear cut victory. God bless.
You can at least expect the political turmoil, with political factions "fighting" for the power and control of the state. Either someone like Putin takes power and nothing changes, or shit happens in Russia, like at the collapse of USSR.
Question for mostly Russian FPers: are there any independent pollsters working in Russia now?
Levada Center is the only one I know of, but I think they are not allowed to conduct polling before the election.
Turnout is gonna be the interesting thing here, as always
Would he even retire though?
If he decided to do that though I have to imagine he would have some sort of plan in place for keeping the status quo
Is there even anything stopping them from just lying about the turnout? Considering the importance being placed on it.
Well he has to options:
He could hold onto power as long as he can, exploiting the loopholes in the constitution regarding term limits, until he is 80 and is getting perceived increasingly weaker, maybe literally so due to some health condition. His support would be severely diminished at that point.
Or he could pick a successor in the next six years (in his last officially possible term), who he absolutely trusts to follow the same ideology, while also being a strong leader himself/herself, have a smooth transfer of power because he still has plenty of influence, then retire peacefully.
I'd pick #2
If Putin's reputation for paranoia is anything to go by, I suspect he either feels he will continue his rule into old age or be eventually forced into retirement, i.e.the grave.
What a political farce, this shit needs to stop
Congrats for the victory Putin, I'm sure Trump will be congratulating you soon on Twitter as well.
Wait shit too soon.
And the results are in with an astounding 110% of the votes for Putin, what a close victory this truly is- what's that? This just in, the other candidates have just been confirmed dead by a minimum of 30 gunshots to the back each, their suicide notes cite the crippling shame of their failed ideology and political careers as the cause for their actions.
A stunning victory for Putin that no one could have expected
Vladimir Putin will lead Russia for another six years, after securing an expected victory in the presidential election.
A Russian state exit poll gave him 73.9% of the vote, easily defeating his closest competitor.
The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was barred from the race.
The scale of victory - which had been widely predicted - was a marked increase in his share of the vote from 2012, when he won 64%.
A state exit poll put the turnout at 63.7%, down on 2012. Mr Putin's campaign had hoped for a large turnout, to give him the strongest possible mandate.
Video recordings from polling stations showed irregularities in a number of towns and cities across Russia. Several videos showed election officials stuffing boxes with ballot papers.
Early results showed that with just 21.3% of boxes counted, Mr Putin had almost 72% of the votes.
Welp, that was quick. :|
Preventing your opponents from running is a good way to win elections.
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