2012 Russian presidential election

2012 Russian presidential election
Kingofthedead · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	2012 Russian presidential election
Country	Russia
Type	presidential
Previous election	2008 Russian presidential election
Next election	2018 Russian presidential election
Election date	4 March 2012
Registered	109,062, 400
Turnout	63.60%

2012 Russian presidential election The 2012 Russian presidential election was held on 4 March 2012. This election was a significant event in Russia's political landscape, marking the beginning of Vladimir Putin's third term as President of Russia. The election was preceded by widespread protests against Dmitry Medvedev, who chose not to run for re-election. United Russia's candidate, Vladimir Putin, faced stiff competition from several high-profile opponents.

Background

The 2012 Russian presidential election took place against a backdrop of growing discontent with the United Russia party and Dmitry Medvedev's presidency. In 2008, Dmitry Medvedev succeeded Vladimir Putin as President of Russia, with Vladimir Putin becoming Prime Minister of Russia. However, by 2011, Medvedev's popularity had waned, and he announced that he would not seek re-election. Vladimir Putin subsequently announced his candidacy for the presidency, sparking widespread protests and criticism from the opposition.

Candidates

The main candidates in the 2012 Russian presidential election were: - Vladimir Putin (United Russia): The incumbent Prime Minister of Russia and a former President of Russia, Putin was widely seen as the front-runner. - Mikhail Prokhorov (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia): A billionaire businessman and politician, Prokhorov was a surprise candidate who ran on a platform of economic liberalism. - Gennady Zyuganov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation): A veteran politician and long-time leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Zyuganov ran on a platform of social and economic reform. - Sergey Mironov (A Just Russia): A politician and former Chairman of the State Duma, Mironov ran on a platform of social democracy. - Grigory Yavlinsky (Yabloko): A veteran politician and economist, Yavlinsky ran on a platform of economic liberalism and democratization.

Campaign

The 2012 Russian presidential election campaign was marked by controversy and allegations of vote-rigging. Vladimir Putin's campaign focused on his record as Prime Minister of Russia and President of Russia, while his opponents focused on issues of corruption, inequality, and democratic reform. The campaign was also marked by the use of social media and online organizing by the opposition.

Election Day

Election Day was held on 4 March 2012. Vladimir Putin won the election with 63.6% of the vote, while Mikhail Prokhorov came second with 7.9%. The election was widely seen as free and fair, although there were some allegations of vote-rigging.

Results

The official results of the 2012 Russian presidential election were as follows: - Vladimir Putin (United Russia): 63.6% (45,602,075 votes) - Mikhail Prokhorov (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia: 7.9% (5,675,472 votes) - Gennady Zyuganov (Communist Party of the Russian Federation): 17.2% (12,318,388 votes) - Sergey Mironov (A Just Russia): 3.9% (2,763,935 votes) - Grigory Yavlinsky (Yabloko): 1.5% (1,022,282 votes)

Reactions and Aftermath

The 2012 Russian presidential election was widely seen as a significant event in Russia's political landscape. Vladimir Putin's victory marked the beginning of his third term as President of Russia, while the opposition vowed to continue protesting against the United Russia party. The election also sparked widespread debate about the state of democracy in Russia and the need for political reform. Mikhail Prokhorov subsequently became a prominent figure in Russian politics, while Gennady Zyuganov and Grigory Yavlinsky continued to play important roles in the opposition. Category:2012 Russian presidential election