RUSSIA: 2ND ROUND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS

(4 Jul 1996) English/Nat

President Boris Yeltsin swept to a stunning victory and a second term on Thursday.

Russians have decisively rejected his communist opponent's call to revive the Soviet Union and its rigid controls.

Yeltsin has more than a ten-point lead over communist candidate Gennady Zyuganov with 84 percent of the vote counted.

As the votes came pouring in from all around the country, it became clear that Boris Yeltsin had won a second term in Government.

With 84 percent of the vote counted, Yeltsin had 54 percent compared to 40 percent for his communist challenger Gennady Zyuganov.

It was a remarkable triumph for the 65-year-old president, who was trailing badly in the polls at the start of the year.

Overcoming concerns about his competence and health, Yeltsin bounced back with a high profile campaign.

One of the key reasons behind Wednesday's success was the high turn out of voters - more than sixty per cent.

SOUNDBITE:
Tremendous turnout. Five points, maybe six points at the end of the day lower than the first round, but comparatively this is a very good turnout for Boris Yeltsin, right about what they expected in fact.
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McFaul, Senior Analyst, Carnegie Endowment Fund

Yeltsin's state of health, however, still remains a mystery.

He cancelled a number of public appearances in the week before the runoff, briefly arousing fears when he failed to turn up at his scheduled polling place in Moscow.

SOUNDBITE:
Well obviously he must have more than just a cold to miss the victory party for one of the greatest days in his political career. That to me says that he is an ill man
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McFaul, Senior Analyst, Carnegie Endowment Fund

Boris Yeltsin says he will press ahead vigorously with democratic reforms.

There is concern, however, about whether he will serve out this four-year term after suffering two heart attacks in the past year.

Galina Starovoitova, a former top Yeltsin aide, said that Yeltsin's health was not so much an issue as the vote for democracy.

SOUNDBITE:
I think our constituencies are more or less accustomed that Yeltsin, from time to time he has a bad health. But he is like phoenix who can recover very quickly as we could prove it many times during these several years, and on the other hand people didn't vote for his personality because there is a lot of criticism in his address and our country now. Rather people voted for his course, for these selected ways for market economy, for democracy.
SUPER CAPTION: Galina Starovoitova, Former Top Yeltsin Adviser

The mood at Communist election headquarters was somber.

Gennady Zyuganov was not to be seen on election night.

He was reported to have spent the evening in the Duma, Russia's parliament.

The Communists and their allies still have a working majority in Parliament and could try to block legislation.

His financial supporter, banker Vladimir Semago, said that the fight is over, but Yeltsin now has his hands full.

SOUNDBITE:
Q: Have you accepted defeat?
A: Yes, no it is not very important. The main thing is what we will have in November, the economical situation, that is the main point for us and in a cynical way we are looking forward in a very positive way because Mr Yeltsin here received all the responsibility for what will be in the future.
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Semago, Financial Supporter to Gennady Zyuganov

Yeltsin now has to face Russia's enormous social and economic problems in his second term.


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