1996 Presidential Election in Russia. Saving Boris Yeltsin

The presidential elections in 1996 were the first presidential elections held in post-soviet Russia. Boris Yeltsin held the new office as the President of Russia since 1991 and many new market reforms were imposed to transform Russia from a state-controlled economy to a free market economy and Russia continued its steady economic decline that started in the late 80’s, despite his reforms. In Yeltsin’s first term as the president of Russia the country was facing many serious problems: low production rates, an unpopular war in Chechnya, unpaid pensions and wages and an underfunded, declining army and for many it was a surprise that Yeltsin was reelected in 1996 after such a disastrous first term in office, where he faced many problems, but failed to address them properly. In January 1996 opinion polls showed that only 6% of the Russian population were inclined to vote for Boris Yeltsin, compared to 57,3% that he received in the first election five years earlier. Yet, Boris Yeltsin made a remarkable comeback and within a few months he managed to convince a good majority of the Russian population to reelect him. Yeltsin won the elections in June and July 1996 against his main opponent, the communist Gennady Zyuganov, who many believed would win the election. This essay will discuss why Yeltsin became so unpopular in his first term and how Yeltsin won the election with financial help of the oligarchs and a well-planned campaign