Communist Party candidate Nikolay Kharitonov is the runner-up with 4.32%
Ria Novosti reports: the total turnout, according to the data at 20:37 was 74.22%
Putin's preliminary result is a record in the history of modern Russia. In 2018, he gained 76.69% in the presidential elections, in 2012, 63.6%. Dmitry Medvedev won in 2008 with the result of 70.28%. In 2004 and 2000, Putin was in the lead from 71.31% and 52.9%, respectively. In 1996 Boris Yeltsin won [rigged with help of US] the second round with the result of 53.82%.
It's a disappointing result and the KPRF needs to do some serious thinking about how to stand out more as a real alternative to United Russia, because it is clear they have underperformed compared to previous elections. However i also think that this is an exceptional election what with the war situation and once things calm down a little and there is no longer a feeling of needing to unite against an external threat some of their voter base which temporarily went over to UR will come back. Still, they have a lot of work ahead of them if they are serious about building up a mass working class organization again.
The 3.8% is some irrelevant lib that hardly anyone had even heard of before this election and who will fade again into irrelevancy just as quickly. He was just a placeholder to aggregate all of the disaffected libs behind. At least Kharitonov and Slutsky are somewhat known names, even if the latter is a total shit bag.
KPRF needs younger leadership imo. Particularly younger people who weren't yet politically conscious in the 90s and who haven't been so traumatized by the political defeats suffered by communists during that time. I believe there is a kind of collective political PTSD among communists who were active in that difficult period that makes them very timid and prone to compromise and capitulation.
(Don't quote me on that though, it's just some armchair psychology on my part and may be total bullshit.)
I agree with your views, I had the same experiences with older communists. Also hoping that the younger gen can turn things around