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2ND LEAD: Russia's Putin stands on record in voter teleconference Eds: Adds new Putin quotes
MOSCOW, Dec 15, 2011 (dpa - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said his leadership had made the country stronger, wealthier and more stable in a teleconference broadcast live on Thursday, and called on voters to elect him as president in March.
In a slick media performance typical of Russia's most popular politician, Putin listed his government's successes and described recent mass protests in dozens of cities against his leadership as a sign of a healthy society.
"It's normal that people express their opinion as long as it's within the framework of the law. I liked it that there were young people actively expressing their opinion," Putin said, referring to demonstrations against alleged election fraud during a December 4 parliamentary vote.
The protests, some of which were attended by tens of thousands, were the largest anti-government demonstrations in Russia in almost two decades. They also vented substantial and unprecedented public criticism of Putin's longstanding leadership.
"I saw strong, energetic people with intelligence in their eyes," he said of the protests. "If that is a result of the 'Putin regime', I am only glad of it."
He said the vote, which returned his United Russia party to power, was free and fair and reflected "the real political situation in the country."
Putin is campaigning to be elected president in a vote on March 4. He has already served two presidential terms, from 2000-2008.
The presidential vote would also be free and fair, he said, adding that the government would intensify its monitoring of the process by installing cameras at voting sites.
"The opposition says to people that there is no reason to turn out to vote because the result is going to be fixed. I want to promise you that that is not the case, that nothing is going to be fixed," Putin said during the nationally-televised teleconference.
"So some of you, you might say you're very busy, you have to dig potatoes, you don't have time to go vote. But no one is going to vote but you. The result depends on you," Putin said.
One of the questions -- fielded via television link from more than a dozen cities and by telephone, email and SMS messages -- concerned the surprise decision by powerful oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov to run for president against Putin.
"That's his right as a Russian citizen," Putin answered. "He is a follow-through guy. My understanding is he is doing this to advance his ideas, and he is doing it in accordance with the law. I can't say I wish him success, but he will be a worthy, strong opponent."
Most of the questions focused on day-to-day problems faced by Russians, such as inefficient bureaucrats, rising utility rates, the adoption of orphans, transient labourers, corrupt police and a lack of financing for education and the arts.
International issues were practically not discussed.
Putin said a top priority of his presidency, if elected, would be to "humanize" provincial government. He said democracy needed to be made to work "everywhere" in Russia and that voters should hold regional officials to task.
"The thing is, it's the people who elect them (local officials) and they (voters) need to understand who they're electing ... oligarchs or representatives. People need to understand the election process," Putin said.
Local government would become more responsible and average living standards would improve, Putin said, because of the "solid economic base" the country now possessed as a result of government support to industry and major development projects.
He repeatedly said Russia's economy was doing better than that of other countries, pointing out that Russia held the world's third largest foreign currency reserves and enjoyed just 6-per-cent unemployment, falling inflation and a gross domestic product growth rate of 4.2 per cent.
"In Europe and the (United) States, their economies are for practical purposes stagnant," Putin added.
"We have come through the world economic crisis better than almost any other country," Putin said. "But the main thing is, our economy is healthy, we now have the framework to build the country."
"All of you know what has been done, and by me as well, to prevent the collapse of our country," Putin said. "But those days are past ... and we must move forward."
___ (c)2011 Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) Visit Deutsche
Presse-Agentur GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) at www.dpa.de/English.82.0.html
Distributed by MCT Information Services
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