Putin set to win re-election in a landslide vote despite almost no effort campaigning, poll shows
Popularity still strong despite Putin not producing an official manifesto, refusing to join in televised debates and recycling campaign video material
Vladimir Putin will return to the Kremlin with 69 per cent of the vote, according to the last survey by state pollsters before the Russian presidential election on Sunday.
The figure has dipped from highs of 77 per cent soon after Putin announced his candidacy in December, but there is little doubt he will win in a landslide even after a lacklustre campaign.
“There are several reasons why Putin has such a high rating. There are of course his personal qualities. He is the most trusted [candidate],” head of state pollster VTsIOM Valeriy Fyodorov told a press conference on Monday.
Around 90 per cent of people who were aware of Putin’s manifesto said they supported it, Fyodorov said.
Putin has not produced an official manifesto but he discussed poverty and environmental issues during a state of the nation address this month.
He has refused to take part in televised debates with his seven challengers and his campaign videos have relied solely on archive material.
