TT: Dimitri Medvedev: The new president of Russia - je 02.03.2008 10

Welcome Back. Russians have gone to the polls and done exactly what President Vladimir Putin wanted: They voted for his hand-picked successor Dimitri Medvedev. +++LM-REIN+++ With a good 70 percent of the vote, Medvedev has come out the clear winner. However, without any major opposition candidates standing in his way, the election was his to lose. In the meantime, Medvedev, as president, has promised to follow closely in Putin's political footsteps. In the minds of many Russians, Putin's policies led them out of the political and economic chaos of the 1990s, while Boris Yeltsin was in power. And they want to see current economic growth continue with the same momentum under a new president. Medvedev has promised that, with of course Vladimir Putin at his side, as prime minister. +++LM-RAUS+++ But will Medvedev fulfill the expectations of Russians, will he perhaps pursue another course once he takes over the reins in May? Here's a look now at Russia's new president-elect.