Putin calls for fair presidential elections
Source: Agencies |
December 28, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the March election, in which he will seek to reclaim presidency, should be transparent and fair, but rejected demands from swelling numbers of protesters for a rerun of the parliamentary election which protesters accused of vote-rigging.
Putin's United Russia party barely retained its majority in the December 4 election despite alleged vote-rigging in its favor. Tens of thousands have protested since, urging an end to Putin's rule.
Putin served as president from 2000 to 2008 and remained the country's most powerful figure after switching to the premier's seat due to a term limit.
Yesterday, during a meeting with supporters he dismissed the opposition as lacking a goal beyond fomenting turmoil, accused its leaders of trying to delegitimize elections and said they haven't proven their worth.
"The problem is they lack a consolidated program, as well as clear and comprehensible ways of achieving their goals, which aren't clear either," said Putin. "They also lack people who are capable of doing something concrete."
Putin again flatly rejected the demands for a rerun of the parliamentary vote, saying that "there can't be any talk about reviewing it."
At the same time, he urged his supporters to ensure fairness of the presidential vote to prevent any possible criticism, and discussed details of his proposal to put web cameras at all polling stations. He also suggested that all ballot boxes be made transparent.
"As a candidate, I don't need any vote-rigging," Putin said. "I want the election to be maximally transparent. I want to rely on people's will, on people's trust, and it makes no sense to work if it's missing."
Putin's United Russia party barely retained its majority in the December 4 election despite alleged vote-rigging in its favor. Tens of thousands have protested since, urging an end to Putin's rule.
Putin served as president from 2000 to 2008 and remained the country's most powerful figure after switching to the premier's seat due to a term limit.
Yesterday, during a meeting with supporters he dismissed the opposition as lacking a goal beyond fomenting turmoil, accused its leaders of trying to delegitimize elections and said they haven't proven their worth.
"The problem is they lack a consolidated program, as well as clear and comprehensible ways of achieving their goals, which aren't clear either," said Putin. "They also lack people who are capable of doing something concrete."
Putin again flatly rejected the demands for a rerun of the parliamentary vote, saying that "there can't be any talk about reviewing it."
At the same time, he urged his supporters to ensure fairness of the presidential vote to prevent any possible criticism, and discussed details of his proposal to put web cameras at all polling stations. He also suggested that all ballot boxes be made transparent.
"As a candidate, I don't need any vote-rigging," Putin said. "I want the election to be maximally transparent. I want to rely on people's will, on people's trust, and it makes no sense to work if it's missing."
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