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One-in-Four Russians See Putin Personality Cult
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Some people in Russia think prime minister and former president Vladimir Putin is the subject of a personality cult, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 23 per cent of respondents share this opinion.
An additional 26 per cent of respondents say there is no Putin personality cult in Russia at the moment, but it could be developed. 38 per cent say there are no signs of any such cult.
Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin, who had been in office since 2000, endorsed Dmitry Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.
In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.
Russians have named streets, pop songs and vodka after the current prime minister. The latest sign of admiration for Putin is a book of poetry for children called Putinyata. Earlier this month, Irina Konnova—the book’s author—said she wants to thank Putin for encouraging families to have more children in order to reverse a downward demographic trend in Russia, and added, "There is no cult of Putin here. It is just that in Soviet times I was taught to respect those who lead the country."
Polling Data
Do you think Vladimir Putin is the subject of a cult of personality in Russia?
|
|
Oct. 2009 |
Oct. 2007 |
|
Yes, all its signs are already present |
23% |
22% |
|
Not yet, but it could still happen |
26% |
27% |
|
No, there are no signs of this cult |
38% |
38% |
|
I make it difficult to answer |
12% |
13% |
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Oct. 16 to Oct. 19, 2009. No margin of error was provided.