Gorbachev Runs Uncontested for Soviet Presidency

MOSCOW —  Mikhail S. Gorbachev was the only man left on the ballot today for Soviet legislators to select as the country’s new, powerful president, and his victory appeared certain.

Premier Nikolai I. Ryzhkov and Interior Minister Vadim A. Bakatin had been nominated for the post by a group calling itself Soyuz, or Union, which is opposed to efforts by Soviet republics to break away, but both withdrew.

Balloting was to begin later tonight and results were expected Thursday morning.

Although uncontested, Gorbachev could still be defeated if less than 50% of the 2,250 members in the Congress of People’s Deputies participate in the vote or if the majority of those voting cross his name off the ballot. That was highly unlikely, however.

Deputies narrowly agreed earlier today that they, and not the Soviet people, would elect the Soviet Union’s new president to a four-year term.