Tỷ Lệ Ủng Hộ Vượt Mốc 80%: Putin’s ‘Tuyệt Chiêu’ to Win Elections
The upcoming presidential election in Russia has garnered attention as incumbent President Vladimir Putin’s campaign strategy has drawn overwhelming support. According to a survey conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, 80.2% of respondents expressed their intention to vote for Putin. This unprecedented level of support is making headlines around the world.
Three Candidates Competing Against Putin
On February 8th, the Central Election Commission of Russia announced the list of candidates for the upcoming presidential election. Apart from Putin, three other candidates will compete for the highest office in the country.
Nikolai Kharitonov
Kharitonov, the candidate of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, garnered 6.3% support in the survey. He is known for his experience in politics and currently serves as the Chairman of the Committee for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic of the State Duma.
Leonid Slutsky
Slutsky, the candidate of the Democratic Party of Free Russia, received 5.6% support in the survey. He is a member of the State Duma and currently serves as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Vladislav Davankov
Davankov, the candidate of the New People’s Party, secured 5.1% support in the survey. He is the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma.
Putin Runs as an Independent Candidate
Unlike previous elections, President Putin is running as an independent candidate rather than being endorsed by the United Russia party. This strategic move aims to attract voters outside of the United Russia party and convey the message that Putin represents all Russian citizens.
According to political analyst Hua Xiong Chi, this tactic eliminates the ideological differences among the candidates, appealing to conservative voters. Putin emphasizes Russia’s uniqueness and his role as a protector of traditional Russian values. This approach aims to solidify Putin’s image as the president of all Russian citizens.
The Political Landscape in Russia Today
The political landscape in Russia can be divided into several factions. These include the United Russia party, representing the traditional right-wing forces, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and the Fair Russia party, representing the moderate left-wing forces, the Liberal Democratic Party representing the extreme right-wing forces, and the New People’s Party representing the young conservative faction.
It is worth noting that, except for Putin, the remaining three candidates have all faced sanctions from the United States and Western countries due to the crisis in Ukraine. This suggests that, from a different perspective, they share similar views with Putin on national and foreign policies.
The 2024 Election and Putin’s Strategy
The 2024 presidential election in Russia holds significance as it is the first presidential election following a military campaign since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The current goal of the Russian presidential office is to maintain voter turnout and support at the same levels as the 2018 election. In 2018, Putin received 76.69% of the vote, with a voter turnout of 67.54%.
Putin’s decision to run as an independent candidate for the second time is seen as a strategic move to attract voters beyond the United Russia party. This positions him as a nonpartisan candidate and reinforces the political image that Putin is the president of all Russian citizens.
The presidential election will be held from March 15th to 17th, with both direct and online voting options available. Preliminary results are expected to be announced on March 18th, and the official results before March 28th.
If Putin wins the upcoming election, it will be his fifth term as the President of Russia.