Russian 2012 election... New chapter...

The election will be taking place the 4th of March... or in other words, in 5 days... and the campaign is stronger than ever. Putin (the favorite candidate in the polls, with more or less 60% of the votes, which would mean victory in the 1st round) is calling for the first time voters, while the middle class is trying to attract the voter's attention to the protests and to negative aspects involving Putin.

2 days ago there was the approval of 3 laws reforming the electoral rules that was pushed through by Putin's government, and which basically say that the minor parties will get easier requirements for participating in the elections. It represents somehow the opening of the system for the minor parties and can surely contribute to a healthy political competition in the future.

And Putin knows it. He aspires to stay not only in one but in two electoral periods, and in order to get this he is planning to spend around $161 billion, according to some observers. On what will he be spending all this money? Well, not only on the campaign (which is also really expensive, as usual), but he wants to prevent any difficulties with lots of promises to the people. The government spending will be rocketed by as much as $161 billion through 2018 on the back of popular pledges designed to guarantee Putin's return to the Kremlin and shore up support that has wobbled amid large street demonstrations. Again, the old tactic to gain votes through the influence of money.

Putin's campaign trail pledges have included promises to raise the salaries of teachers, doctors and university staff, give additional allowances to families with three children, more scholarships and expanding the provision of living accommodations for military personnel. Putin's campaign has not just been predicated on promises. The Energy Minister announced in January that an informal agreement with the energy companies would ensure to freeze the fuel and electricity prices until after the election. Rising gas prices and building services payments have also been postponed to the second half of the year.

In the opposition, the fear remains of having manipulations of votes and the lack of transparency in the results.

And furthermore: Billionaire-turned-presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov has invited supporters to join his own political party over the weekend, which he has promised to found after the election the 4th of March. Prokhorov said nothing about the party’s ideology, but it will face numerous competitors if it follows his liberal, pro-business stance. One of them, Right Cause, the party Prokhorov briefly headed last year, announced Friday that it supports Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s bid to return to (the) Kremlin. He also said in a statement last Saturday, on his campaign website that the party, which has no name yet, should be built by its members who would decide its political direction. By late Sunday, more than 21,500 users had registered on the site .

We're still watching what will happen..