To no one's surprise, Mr. Vladimir Putin won Russia's presidential election Sunday. Although the acting president did top the 50 percent level, which allowed him to escape a runoff ballot, the narrowness of his margin was an eye-opener. The much-anticipated landslide never materialized, the Communist Party's allegations of fraud notwithstanding. With nearly 47 percent of voters casting ballots against him, and 30 percent of the electorate abstaining, Mr. Putin cannot claim a convincing mandate. If he wants one, he must better the lives of all Russians.

Mr. Putin was plucked from relative obscurity to become prime minister in August last year. His KGB background suggested he would favor a strong-man approach to governing, and his robust defense of Russian nationalism and vigorous prosecution of the Chechen War has borne out those predictions. But beyond that, his policies are still murky.

He has refused to provide details of his economic plan, saying he needs more time to develop it properly. He rails against the corruption that has eviscerated the government and promises to break the grip of the oligarchs. Yet during his term in office, he has put little distance between himself and the businessmen who dominate the Russian economy. He calls himself a centrist while forming legislative alliances with the Communists.