For some MEPs the crucial aspect of the election was the fact that President Putin had picked Dmitry Medvedev as his chosen successor to continue his policies of a strong state and a growing economy.
R. Paasilinna tomēr uzskata, ka Dmitrija Medvedeva sasniegtais rezultāts būtu bijis tikpat augsts arī tad, ja vēlēšanas būtu bijušas demokrātiskas.