Monitors criticise Russian poll

[ben ashton]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7274395.stm

Mr Medvedev said he hoped to work in an "effective tandem" with Mr Putin as his prime minister.

With nearly 100% of the ballots counted, Mr Medvedev won 70.23% of the vote

Mr Medvedev's nearest rival was Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, with 17.76% of the vote. He vowed to go to court over alleged fraud

"The results of the presidential election are a reflection of the will of an electorate whose democratic potential was, unfortunately, not tapped,"

My bold... where are the international denunciations and support for alternative, fairly elected leaders? Oh yeah, tapping russian gas and oil is more important.

'Democracy' saves the day once again

[Katharine]

I haven't seen the exact figures but I heard turnout was 70% and he received 70% of the vote sounds great till you realise that less than half of the electorate voted for him. (70% of 70% gives 49% of the electorate voting for him)

[michael scuffil]

Yes Katharine that was precisely the calculation I performed sleepily when I woke up to News Briefing this morning.

[sejintenej]

I haven't seen the exact figures but I heard turnout was 70% and he received 70% of the vote sounds great till you realise that less than half of the electorate voted for him. (70% of 70% gives 49% of the electorate voting for him)

It's a bit like Britain - your vote is only counted if you cast it. Alternatively consider that 70% of the thirty percent who didn't vote would have voted for him then he gets 49% plus 21% which comes to 70%.

The report of the EU monitors did state that whatever the shortcomings in the electoral process the result did reflect the wishes of the majority.