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Putin names his candidate for presidency
[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/RY0dZVsuJUA&rel=1[/flash]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7243701.stm
Q&A: Russian presidential polls
Russians go to the polls on Sunday 2 March to elect a new president - the country's third since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The incumbent, Vladimir Putin, is stepping down at the end of two four-year terms, as prescribed by the constitution.
Dmitry Medvedev has Mr Putin's public backing as his preferred successor, and is regarded as almost certain to win.
What is at stake?
On paper, quite a lot. Under Russia's constitution, the presidency is by far the most powerful institution in the Russian state.
Apart from being head of state, the president is in overall charge of setting government policy. He can veto laws passed by parliament, which needs a two-thirds majority in both houses to overcome the president's opposition.
The president takes the lead in choosing the prime minister, and while parliament can reject his choice, it cannot insist on a candidate of its own. The president also appoints Russia's regional heads of government.
What are the rules?
To win, a candidate must get over 50% of the vote. Failing that, the two highest polling candidates go through to a second round, to be held 21 days after the first.
In order to run, candidates had either to be put forward by a party in parliament, or collect the signatures of two million voters.
Polling is staggered across Russia's 11 time zones. The first polling stations open at 2000 GMT on 1 March in the far east, with the last closing in the far west at 1800 GMT the following day.
Around 109 million Russians are eligible to vote in Russia and abroad.
Will the election be free and fair?
The observer group of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) described Russia's last nationwide vote - the parliamentary election in December 2007 - as neither free nor fair.
In the run-up to these elections, opposition candidates have complained that state-owned national television stations have devoted an overwhelming amount of coverage to Dmitry Medvedev.
Will there be international observers?
Yes. About 300 international observers will monitor the vote, according to Russia's Central Electoral Commission.
However, the process has been overshadowed by the OSCE's decision to boycott the election; the organisation said that restrictions imposed by Russia on its monitors would have made it impossible to do their job.
Russia reacted angrily to the move, accusing the OSCE of making "ultimatums".
What will Mr Putin's role be after the election?
This has been the subject of intense speculation; Mr Putin at least partly dispelled some of the mystery by accepting an offer to become prime minister if Mr Medvedev is elected.
Some observers believe Mr Medvedev's candidacy is merely a way for Mr Putin to maintain influence after formally stepping down, and that the outgoing president will - as prime minister - continue to call the shots.
Putin names his candidate for presidency
[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/RY0dZVsuJUA&rel=1[/flash]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7243701.stm
Q&A: Russian presidential polls
Russians go to the polls on Sunday 2 March to elect a new president - the country's third since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The incumbent, Vladimir Putin, is stepping down at the end of two four-year terms, as prescribed by the constitution.
Dmitry Medvedev has Mr Putin's public backing as his preferred successor, and is regarded as almost certain to win.
What is at stake?
On paper, quite a lot. Under Russia's constitution, the presidency is by far the most powerful institution in the Russian state.
Apart from being head of state, the president is in overall charge of setting government policy. He can veto laws passed by parliament, which needs a two-thirds majority in both houses to overcome the president's opposition.
The president takes the lead in choosing the prime minister, and while parliament can reject his choice, it cannot insist on a candidate of its own. The president also appoints Russia's regional heads of government.
What are the rules?
To win, a candidate must get over 50% of the vote. Failing that, the two highest polling candidates go through to a second round, to be held 21 days after the first.
In order to run, candidates had either to be put forward by a party in parliament, or collect the signatures of two million voters.
Polling is staggered across Russia's 11 time zones. The first polling stations open at 2000 GMT on 1 March in the far east, with the last closing in the far west at 1800 GMT the following day.
Around 109 million Russians are eligible to vote in Russia and abroad.
Will the election be free and fair?
The observer group of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) described Russia's last nationwide vote - the parliamentary election in December 2007 - as neither free nor fair.
In the run-up to these elections, opposition candidates have complained that state-owned national television stations have devoted an overwhelming amount of coverage to Dmitry Medvedev.
Will there be international observers?
Yes. About 300 international observers will monitor the vote, according to Russia's Central Electoral Commission.
However, the process has been overshadowed by the OSCE's decision to boycott the election; the organisation said that restrictions imposed by Russia on its monitors would have made it impossible to do their job.
Russia reacted angrily to the move, accusing the OSCE of making "ultimatums".
What will Mr Putin's role be after the election?
This has been the subject of intense speculation; Mr Putin at least partly dispelled some of the mystery by accepting an offer to become prime minister if Mr Medvedev is elected.
Some observers believe Mr Medvedev's candidacy is merely a way for Mr Putin to maintain influence after formally stepping down, and that the outgoing president will - as prime minister - continue to call the shots.
