Putin

Boris Yeltsin’s resignation as Russian president on New Year’s Eve 1999 left his designated successor, transitional President Vladimir Putin, as the overwhelming favourite to win presidential elections scheduled for 26 March 2000. In this case, the extensive powers of the Russian presidency, which have largely lain dormant in Yeltsin’s feeble grip, will be assumed by a vigorous and ruthless 47-year-old former KGB agent. As prime minister and presumptive successor, Putin already enjoyed popularity because of his launch of the campaign in Chechnya on 23 September 1999, as well as his public image of youth and decisiveness. To these advantages, Putin has added his grip on the state and the media, thanks to government influence and the support of leading media owners. The power of this combination was demonstrated in the December 1999 parliamentary elections when his government’s Unity electoral bloc, only founded in October, came a close second, with 23% of the vote. Together with its allies in the businessoriented Union of Rightist Forces, which received 8% of the vote, the government bloc has gained a clear parliamentary lead over the communists, who received just 24%. Regarding economic reform, the government should also be able to rely on the support of the liberal Yabloko party, which won 6% of the vote, although Yabloko opposes the government over the Chechen war. The Fatherland–All Russia bloc of former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov The Putin regime in Russia