66 Days Until Election: Vladimir Putin Fields Most Pressing Questions Facing His Candidacy
Today, the answers to the questions that Vladimir Putin has been asked since the moment he announced he's going to run for president were revealed. Putin personally held the first meeting of his campaign office. It became clear that there are three leaders of the office: a doctor, a teacher, and a production worker people who are widely respected.
Putin also had a talk with the volunteers who are checking the signatures collected in his support. He asked everyone engaged in the campaigning to act exclusively within the law and remember that people enjoy direct informal communication.
Pavel Zarubin with the details.
The center of Moscow, Gostiny Dvor. Today, the work of the campaign office of the independent Vladimir Putin started here. Constant brainstorming — here, the key decisions about the course of Putin's campaign will be discussed and concluded. Right now — a lot of organizational matters. Volunteers check the signatures collected across the country in support of Putin.
They had to interrupt only when Putin himself came to the office. These young people come from Moscow and many other regions. They decided to devote the next two months to work in the office of the candidate whom they fully trust. Trust is a word that Putin repeated several times today.
Vladimir Putin: "I know that you are young but you're already experienced and effective managers. And what's especially important — you have experience working with people.
You have kind eyes.
Because it's important to inspire trust both in life and especially when organizing an election campaign".
At that moment, almost 150,000 signatures in support of Putin have already been collected across the country. Although many signatures weren't accepted.
A volunteer: "Frankly speaking, many people support you and they're happy. Arbat is a place where everyone's in a hurry but when they heard these signatures were for you they stopped and signed. Even some foreigners wanted to leave a signature but we told them it's against the rules. But they support you. And we're happy we're in your team".
Vladimir Putin: "I'm grateful to you and to the people who leave their signatures. I'm grateful for their trust that they demonstrate through signatures".
As for who would lead Putin's office there was a lot of talks but no one could predict this decision. Three co-chairmen. People who are famous and respected across the country for their tangible and very important deeds.
Director of the Dima Rogachev Cancer Center Alexander Rumyantsev, Recently, the clinic under his leadership has revived thousands of terminally sick children and got them on their feet.
Elena Shmeleva the head of the Sirius Center in Sochi that fulfills the dreams of talented kids from all over Russia.
Sergey Kogogin director of the most powerful auto giant KamAZ a company known all over the world for the quality and reliability of its cars.
The most important aspect of the work of the office and its co-chairs is that Putin sets the priorities.
Vladimir Putin: "People are waiting for direct communication and in order for this direct communication to succeed and be effective, useful, sincere, and trustworthy we need people like you. It is important that we gradually, but very confidently lead our potential voter to the conclusion that we are ready for the further development of the country and any steps that will benefit our country and our citizens. These steps will be set not even for a medium-term, but for a long historical perspective".
The office is ready to receive and organize the ideas, requests, advice, and wishes of voters.
Elena Shmeleva, co-chair of Putin's campaign office: "We'll soon launch a website. We'll organize a reception center and a hotline of the office".
Currently, the office is working with Putin's future agents. According to the co-chairs, there are more than a thousand willing people. But the selection is strict.
Alexander Rumyantsev, co-chair of Putin's campaign office: "I want to give you the first part of the list that will let us begin our work with the Central Election Commission".
Vladimir Putin: "My agents?"
Alexander Rumyantsev: "That's right".
Vladimir Putin: "You know, I was at the Tver Carriage Works and its director-general also expressed a desire to participate in this work as my agent."
The work is ambitious but must be clear and rigorous, says Putin.
Vladimir Putin: "I want to ask you and all people who are engaged in the work of the office to act exclusively within the law without violating anything.
The collection of signatures also must be executed without any violations. We'll manage to do everything within the law as correctly as possible like your KamAZ does".
The office works on a voluntary basis but the key elements are executed professionally.
- Will KamAz continue to work in your absence? Will it run smoothly?
Sergey Kogogin, co-chair of Putin's campaign office: "It'll be just fine. The system is well-regulated".
Andrei Kondrashov, a well-known VGTRK journalist has also taken a two-months vacation. The author of the popular movie Crimea became the press secretary of the office.
Only 66 days left until the election day.
Pavel Zarubin, Sergey Rubanov Sergey Tovgali, and Pyotr Rovnov Vesti, Moscow