To give him due credit, he is far better at rigging elections than most dictators. Some have done it so clumsily that they ended up with more than 100% of the vote.

 

I'm surprised they go to that much effort tbh. Why not just say Vlad wins.

 

Putin isn't actually all that popular with voters, at least not the ones I've met, he's just significantly more popular than the other candidates (I.E the least worst option). Historically speaking in the previous three elections he stood in his voter share was 53.4%, 71.9% and 63.6% respectively and all three had turnouts around 65%. That puts him more popular than Yeltsin was but less popular than Medvedev, numerically speaking he is around as popular as Theresa May is in the UK.

It's kind of comical to note that if the current indications are correct (and with >97% reporting they should be) Putin will have just set a new personal best and new national record result with >76%, thanks almost entirely to the UK and the USA lol (he was predicted to get around 65% a couple of weeks ago before the "political attacks" on Russia boosted his profile, talk about playing into your opponent's hand).

 

As if he wouldnt win! Lol

 

Lol the woman gives no ***** with those balloons

 

Putin is a cheat and has rigged the vote yet again.

 

I’m in no way surprised or shocked that Putin has yet again won the election, really I’m not surprised at all.

I’d have been more surprised if someone other than Putin won.

 

OFC he won, no one expected anything else. All viable competition is in a gulag on dodgy charges or dead.

 

According to Newsnight a couple of days ago his popularity was 81% although Govt policies were only ~50%. You are correct in that the US/UK attacks have boosted his popularity as it has been known for thousands of years that an external attack on a country will help the incumbent.

 

He does love the Institute of Economic Affairs, which ironically is probably funded by Russia!

 

I appreciate it's not quite the same in China but there hasn't been much mention in our news that China voted the incumbent president and also did away with term limits.

I suppose it's different because China are not pretending they are a democracy.

 

True that as well.

 

So taking no action and letting him appear to play the west as mugs wouldn’t have been plying into his hands?

The election was meaningless. He was going to win regardless.

The west have time on their hands, as has always been the case. Russian can do better than Putin, but I can’t see change ever coming through the electoral system.

 

I'm confused. Why are you jumping on Dolphin?

Edit: I could correct the autocorrect but I quite like it.

 

Because he spouts his nonsense in every thread. It was a clear baiting attempt and I'm fed up with it.

 

Did anyone see the panorama documentary on how to get followed by a black car last week?