More than half of Russians want Putin to be reelected as Russian president - poll
MOSCOW. May 2 (Interfax) - Nearly two-thirds of Russian citizens (64%) would like Vladimir Putin to be reelected as Russia's president in 2018, 22% want another person to become president, and 14% are undecided, a spokesman for the Yuri Levada Analytical Center (Levada-Center) told Interfax in citing the findings of a public opinion poll of 1,600 people aged 18 and above conducted in 137 populated localities in 48 Russian regions from March 31 to April 3. The margin of error did not exceed 3.4%.
The sociologists also used a similar sampling method in conducting a poll on April 21-24 to ask the respondents who they would vote for if Russia's presidential elections were to be held next Sunday.
Forty-eight percent of Russians in general and 83% "of those polled who are ready to cast their ballots in these elections and have already decided who they will vote for" said they would vote for Putin.
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky would be supported by 3% of Russians and 5% of those who have already decided which candidate they will vote for, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov by 3% and 4% respectively, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu by 1% and 2% respectively, and opposition activist Alexei Navalny by 1% and 2% respectively.
One percent of Russians in general and as many of those who have already decided who they will vote for in the next presidential election said they would support Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and A Just Russia Party leader Sergei Mironov.
Russia's incumbent President Vladimir Putin was elected to his current term in office in 2012. Russia will hold the next presidential election in 2018. Putin has not said yet whether he will run for reelection.
