As the presidential election campaign kicked off, the incumbent, Vladimir Putin, found himself in the strange position of trying to make the exercise look like a real contest. The decision not to run by three figures who had been permanent fixtures in post-communist presidential politics raised concerns about the health of Russian democracy. For some observers, the increased support among the electorate for populist policies from the left of the spectrum was also raising questions about Putin’s ability to remain committed to his reform program.
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