|
the force of
yeltsinæ¯ personality and his skill in controlling people shaped the
unique character of the russian presidency. his conflicts with party
politicians in parliament and his failure or reluctance to create a
party of his own led him increasingly to see the presidency as
standing above parties, and almost above politics. his presidency
acquired an almost tsarlike quality, which was to have an important
impact on the 1996 presidential election. his personal achievement
in effecting his astonishing comeback in 1996 should not be
underestimated. it will ensure his place in history books as one of
the most resilient politicians of the late twentieth century. |
 |
|
however,
yeltsin could hardly be said to have been elected on his record. his
early popularity as a spokesman for a new russia had long been
overshadowed by the mistakes he had made, by the widespread
disillusionment about the pace and the direction of reform, by the
spread of corruption, and, above all, by the countless lives lost in
chechnya. few people ?including those who had benefited from
yeltsinæ¯ policies ?were truly happy to elect him for a second
term.
presidential election, second round, july 1996
|
candidates |
percentage of votes |
| boris
yeltsin |
54.39 |
|
gennady zyuganov |
40.73 |
|
against all candidates |
4.88 |
the presidential contest was close: yeltsin failed to win
enough votes in the first round to get elected, but in the second
round he managed to beat his communist rival.
