Will Russia’s new President follow in Yeltsin’s footsteps?

As predicted by most analysts, the Russian presidential campaign turned out to be a plebiscite, rather than an attempt to choose the best of the candidates. At two in the morning, Moscow time, Central Election Committee chairman Aleksandr Veshniakov appeared in front of journalists accredited to the Elections 2000 Federal Information Center to announce Vladimir Putin’s turnout: 50.1%, something everybody had been waiting to hear over the past several hours. After that all doubts that the Acting President would be named head of state in the first round vanished. No sensations were registered on the losing side: Gennady Ziuganov was close behind with about 30%, followed by Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky with a scandalous result of slightly over 5%.

Vladimir Putin faced the press at a very good time, when everybody realized he was about to top 50%, although no formal confirmation had been forthcoming. Mr. Putin was quite vague on all questions addressing his plans and intentions, explaining he was not sure about the final results of the vote. However, he was clear on the main criterion of his policy, if and when he became President: fair play. He said that honesty is an important quality which, however, does not suffice to define the new Russian leader’s political and economic course. He declined comment on possible cadre changes in the Cabinet and Presidential Administration, although such changes are the topic of current high level lobby discussions. Nor did he say what his first steps as President would be.

Nevertheless, Mr. Putin will have to answer these and many other questions in the next couple of weeks. The new Russian Chief Executive will have to decide about Chechnya, for the war is devastating the Russian economy, even though it proved the Putin campaign’s only effective project. However, what was good for a presidential candidate is not likely to help the new President early in his term. Mr. Putin will have to figure out an approach to the domestic oligarchs who were an important supporting element of the Yeltsin structure and instrumental in the transfer of power to him.

In any case, the big event has happened. The Russian electorate voted for a man in whom all these people place their highest hopes, although few know anything about his intentions and abilities. Russia is entering a most curious period in its history; with the election a page has been turned. All the other pages are so far blank.