Moscow (AsiaNews) – The election campaign for Russia’s March 2nd presidential vote is nearing an end, and the outgoing Head of State is preparing to give his last televised address to the nation.  According to indiscretions reported by daily newspaper Vedomosti, on February 29th Vladimir Putin will invite Russians to turn out to vote without however indicating preferences. On the other hand the President, who is almost certain to take up the post of Premier, has already publicly declared his support for his preferred successor Dmitry Medvedev. Since then, the latter has behaved as if the presidency was already his.  With the opposition reduced to the margins, next Sunday’s elections will not offer up any surprises to the Russians, or the international community. It is almost a forgone conclusion that Medvedev will win by a landslide majority, forecasts indicate over 80% of votes.

“Russians –say the analysts – will choose continuity”. And this is clear to the favourite candidate, who has moulded not only his speeches, but also his tone of voice and mannerisms to replicate those of his predecessor and mentor. Despite the population’s deep malaise over current social conditions, it appears that their fear of a return to the instability of the Boris Yeltsin era of liberal reform is far greater.  As a result they will in all probability opt for the status quo. Official data indicates that number of Russians living below the poverty line has dropped, wages, consumption, and living standards have increased and a small middle class has emerged.   But under the eight year reign of President Putin, the stability of the macro economy has put a halt on any move to reform. The health care and education systems are languishing, pensions remain ridiculously low, most of the increases in income vanish thanks to rising inflation; official data puts it at 10 per cent, but many economists maintain that the cost of basic products has, in fact doubled.  The gaps in society which first appeared in the ‘90’s have widened.  Putin himself, has frequently declared – today’s The Moscow Times notes– that the main objective is stability rather than reform.

The Federation, rich in petrol and gas reserves, is still struggling with a distribution network that dates back to the Soviet era. Radio Free Europe reports that Russian families, unable to set the temperature in their apartments, are having to rely on dangerous electric and gas heaters in order to heat their homes, which in many cases lead to deadly explosions. The last maintenance check on the gas pipelines dates back to 15-20 years ago and fires in apartment blocks and buildings each year leave hundreds dead.

According to the results of a recent survey carried out by Levada Center, the main problems facing Russians are: low pensions, inflation, an insufficient health care system, pollution and housing.  But the social discontent has yet to transform itself into political dissent.