'Putin set to challenge US superiority'

Despite the recent demonstrations that erupted over allegations of fraud during December's parliamentary elections in Russia, the opinion polls envision a first-round win for Putin with 60 percent of the votes over his four rivals.

Around 90,000 polling stations have been equipped with web cameras in an effort to demonstrate transparency to combat allegations of fraud.

Approximately 65 percent of the 109 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots at the 94,000 polling stations across the country.

An interview with Omar Nashabi, editor of al-Akhbar Weekly, to share his opinion on this issue.

I’d like to ask you the Middle Eastern view and how the Middle East views the importance of these Russian elections and specially the prospects of Vladimir Putin winning again?

Nashabi: Yes, well no doubt that anything that happens in Moscow and elections in Moscow are important for the unfolding events in the Middle East, regardless of the fact that the Russians consideration when they vote is more towards internal Russian affairs, not basically on the Russian foreign policy.

However, the Russian foreign policy will also have an impact. The position of Russia and the position of Mr. Putin is a position that will bring back Russia on the world map as an important super power that is capable of making some major decisions that will affect other parts of the world.

The double vetoes that were in the Security Council recently on the resolution regarding Syria were very important in bringing back Russia as a power and as an important decision maker in international politics and that is the significance of this particular matter.

However, this also creates a lot of pressure from Western powers on Russia. It creates threat from the Islamic fundamentalist groups inside Russia and outside Russia that have threatened Russian security in the past.

Mr. Putin gives the impression to the Russians that he is a strong leader, that he is capable of facing the challenges- economic challenges or political challenges and also challenges coming from criticism.

The criticism was that the elections of the Duma were not complied with the standards of democratic standards in the past and he responded to that by having cameras in 90,000 polling stations.

However he also allowed 250 observers from the European Council and from the OSCE- the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe- and these are also there so he is fully confident of the vote.

Well it is true that the expectations are that he will have less votes than he had in the elections in 2004 where he had 71 percent. Perhaps that number is going to decline a bit but I think that it is very likely that there would not be a second round because in Russia I think if you get less than 50 percent of the votes you go for a second round of elections.

I think Mr. Putin will secure more than 50 percent. However, if he wants it will go for the second round and then I think he will definitely win these elections.

The Russians are really, apparently from the recent polls, they actually are in favor of Mr. Putin becoming president again.