Putin vows free presidential elections

As the House went into the session, acting president and Yeltsin protege Vladimir Putin, the favourite contender for the post, summoned leaders of all political parties represented in the lower house, Duma, and the council and assured them of clean fair polls.

Putin, 54, whose popularity ratings have shot up over his tough handling of the Chechnya war, promised all his potential rivals, including former premier Yevgeny Primakov and communist leader Gennady Zhuganov, equal opportunities during the campaign.

Putin assured rivalsthat there would be no mudslinging through the media, which has often been accused of taking sides in the bitter political battles being played out.

In televised remarks shortly afterwards, Putin expressed hope that the polls would lead to stability in the country. “This will help in the consolidation of society," he said.

Opposition parties, who are yet to recover from the parliamentary campaign last month, were caught off-guard by the decision and hastened to compile party lists and put together campaigns.

Putin’s aides, however, have made it clear that he would not campaign much, concentrating instead on his presidential duties. Rumours are rife that Putin will cut a possible deal with main presidential rival Yevgeny Primakov, under which the latter will be assured of the speaker’s post in the new Duma if he opts out of the presidential race.

A close Primakov aide Bashkortostan president Murtazarahimov told NTV that the Putin-Primakov combination would be ideal for the country. Primakov, leader ofthe fatherland — all Russia party has, however, not announced his candidature for the top post.

A Primakov aide said today that Primakov, whose party did not do well in the parliamentary polls, will contest as an independent candidate.

Communist leader Gennady Yuganov has also not announced whether he would be contesting. Extreme nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky is the only one to have declared that he will run for the post.