In the absence of competition, all the goals and objectives of the March presidential elections are the scope of victory and the level of turnout. Putin does not have a significant political development project for Russia for six years: popularity is earned on military successes in Syria and Ukraine - because of which his country is under sanctions. The only surprises of the current campaign are Grudinin and Sobchak. "People squeezed into the passages in the Central House of Culture to listen to the director of the former state farm, slightly reminiscent of Stalin," writes FT.

Kremlin strategists very creatively persuade citizens, especially young people, to come to vote on March 18. So, voters are offered to do selfie at a polling station and put it in social networks: the best photos will be awarded with prizes. "Where does the interest in politics come from, if the state creates a feeling for citizens that they do not need to worry excessively about politics - the state will settle everything," comments the journalist.

Moscow wants to avoid the situation when the coming apathy will lead to the failure of the elections and there will appear the impression that only half the population supports the president.

The author admits that "the fight against low interest in elections is a pan-European trend," but believes that in this case "Moscow's inclination to control that does not allow real competition" is added ".

"In addition, because of their vanity, the opposition breaks up into separate parts. Some will vote for Sobchak, some for Yavlinsky, others will boycott the elections. Putin without a fight will come to the goal. As usual, "- sums up the journalist.

"For lack of a competitor capable of challenging Putin, goals and tasks that can determine his future mandate, the scope of the victory and the level of appearance appear," writes Le Figaro correspondent in Moscow Pierre Avril. - The only surprise of the current campaign is a new candidate from the Communist Party to replace Gennady Zyuganov, as well as the presence of opposition journalist Ksenia Sobchak ".

Faced with the resistance of urban youth, Putin mainly derives its popularity from the Ukrainian conflict. The date of the March 18 elections is timed to coincide with the three-year anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, for which "enthusiasm has diminished, while the domestic economic and diplomatic context has darkened," reads the article. Public opinion shows indifference and resignation. According to polls of the Levada Center, only 35% of Russians think that their personal situation will improve.

"Despite military successes in Syria and Ukraine - and at the same time because of them - Putin's Russia is under fire from Western sanctions, to which is added the removal of the national team from participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics for the use of doping," continues Avril.

"The Cold War will only worsen," predicts the director of the International Institute of Political Expertise, Yevgeny Minchenko.

The Russian economy is starting to recover, but the almost miraculous growth that was noted in the first decade under Putin is no longer observed. The government has not adopted a single structural reform that could reduce the country's dependence on hydrocarbons, the correspondent says..

The favorite of the presidential elections has not yet submitted any political project capable of determining the development of Russia for the next six years. At the opening of the pre-election headquarters, Putin mentioned only "further development of the country," pays attention to the author.

"There is Putin - there is Russia, there is no Putin - there is no Russia," says the famous formulation of the current State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. "A strong country, a strong candidate," proclaim Putin's posters.

Theoretically, the issue of Putin's lifetime rule will not come until 2024, but he is not tabooed and will arise in power circles on the day after the election, he will hardly get euphoria from the summer soccer world cup, believes Avril. Kremlinologists already see the clan struggle foreshadowing the battle for succession, in the case of Alexei Ulyukayev.

According to the scenario most discussed today, the actual domination of the current head of the Kremlin will last "until the end of the century". "Most likely, we will witness the formal departure of Putin, who informally will maintain his influence," said Minchenko. Experts believe that in the coming years will form a multi-headed power, controlled by Putin.

"Those who dream of the succession of power will have to nibble their grinds," concludes the author.

"On Saturday in the Central House of Artists, a 19th-century mansion in the center of Moscow, people squeezed through the aisles to listen to the 57-year-old man who most of the life ran a former state farm," says Financial Times columnist Catherine Hill. "Pavel Grudinin never held a higher political post than the post of deputy of the Moscow regional Duma," the author notes.. - But now he is a candidate - the "dark horse" of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation against Vladimir Putin - and shook up the pre-election race ".

According to VTsIOM, 7.6% of voters are going to vote for Grudinin - this exceeds more than twice the support recorded last month by Gennady Zyuganov. Grudinin is not even a member of the Communist Party, but his rhetoric on Saturday quickly inflamed politicians of the party and other leftist activists, the journalist testifies..

"His business card, backed up by a video shown at the Central House of Artists, is life in the Lenin State Farm on the southern outskirts of Moscow,. - By selling strawberries and other fresh fruits directly to Moscow consumers, a farm with an annual turnover of 4 billion rubles last year reinvests most of the profits in the social infrastructure for workers ". Grudinin presents his enterprise as a socialist utopia.

With a mop of gray hair and a mustache, the director of the state farm remotely resembles Joseph Stalin, the journalist felt, and in part the support of Grudinin may be owed to nostalgia for the Soviet dictator. "But, when Grudinin checks apple gardens in his proprietary white jacket or lobbies benefits for agro-industry at government conferences, he is more like a businessman who has achieved everything himself," reads the article.

Critics say that a number of his pre-election positions are "stolen" from Alexei Navalny, an opposition politician who was not allowed to run because of his criminal record. The director of the state farm is "a populist, like Navalny," said a political consultant working with the Kremlin. Perhaps the Kremlin supports Grodinin's candidacy in order to neutralize the potential response to the ban on Navalny elections, writes Hille.

InoPress.