The facts of the case: Russian President Vladimir Putin must leave office as president next year and according to my good friend from Belarus, he might become Russian prime minister. Of course, he accepted the proposal by the United Russia to head the party's list - without becoming a member. In Putin's attempt to stay at the centre of power in Russia there are mixed reactions.People like Pro-Kremlin political analyst Gleb Pavlovsky describe it as a radical change but interestingly enough there are people from Russia, Belarus and throughout Europe who find this alignment just as fascinating. For President Vladimir Putin to be the most senior figure in a United Russia, the constitution would have to be changed and Putin has always made it clear he wants no changes to the constitution.
Mr. Putin cannot run for a third consecutive term as president, but the idea of staying around the leadership helm is still very ‘realistic.’ A United Russia is in the horizon and I am still learning about the inherent implications for the countries involved.
Until then, comments are free guys. . . .
17 comments:
Let the Russian people decide at the ballot box. Simple! Doh!
The country needs time to stabilise after the period of turmoil in the 90's and the fragile recovery needs time to stabilise. Western countries don't understand what turmoil the Russians went trough 15 years ago, if the majority of the population want Putin to remain in politics in some form then let it be. Before Putin Yeltsin was dreadful and caused so much destruction of the countries wealth by handing it out to the oligarchs. Putin has been great for Russia.
At least he's got the guts to fight an election, unlike our prime minister.
80% of Russia loves him, he should be allowed to do whatever he wants for his people.
Isn't that kind of the concept of Democracy?
80% of Russia loves him, he should be allowed to do whatever he wants for his people.
The answer is up to the Russian People (but with deeply a ‘loyal’ media, the result might not be that hard to predict)
The smart money’s on Putin’s (virtually unheard of) buddy Viktor Zubkov taking on the Presidential role in March, in which case Putin’s hands will be very much at the helm.
Perhaps then, Zubkof will find some reason for quitting shortly after being elected, and forcing a *new* election, one in which Putin may well be allowed to sit.
Why do we call individuals of Russian origin who stay in Britain Oligarchs if the proper name is wealthy Russian criminals? And, which I find provocative as Orwell would - with the capital C at that?
Why do we call individuals of Russian origin who stay in Britain Oligarchs if the proper name is wealthy Russian criminals? And, which I find provocative as Orwell would - with the capital C at that?
Putin will be PM. Putin is not going to give up power. Russia will elect a president, but Putin will be the one pulling the strings. According to the Russian constitution, if anything should happen to the president, the PM is in charge, so don't be surprised if the future elected Russian president succumbs to a mysterious death.
Yes. He should stay in the centre of Russian politics for the next 5 years. After that, he should become head of the UN. Hey do you really know someone from Belarus or you are making that story up
Did we ask the Russians to comment on Mr Brown's takeover from Blair? What arrogance to assume that people in UK have a right to comment on internal affairs in Russia. I guarantee that if you produced a blank map of Europe and west Asia, few people in UK could even draw in the borders of Russia.
No, the Putin era is over. Russia should be done with him and choose a candidate which will move them one step closer to a smoothly running economic democracy. They must continue to shed all vestiges of Communism, including those who held positions in the Communist Party. It should become a necessary qualification that any serious candidate will not have been indoctrinated in any way by communist principles. As a former KGB, he has deep roots in Communism. He is part of the past.
Having Putin as prime minister will be for the mutual benefit of all Russians. He has such a strong influence in Russian politics and he is the right guy to fight organised crime in Russia, He has that political leverage to make necessary changes in the Russian federation.
Russian country, Russian choice.
It is not for us to try and decide the fate of those that live there & I cannot for a second see russia allowing observers in to check on the election's validity.
We (our Governments) cannot force the issue & therefore it is time to put up and shut up and let the Russian people decide on what is best for them, if they are allowed to.
putin is popular with the majority of russians. russia has regained it's former glory & is back as a world player. putin has moved russia's economy foward. he is one of a few world leaders with any real sense of direction. yes, russia needs putin & the world needs putin.
A more fitting title already exists in the Russian vocabulary : Tsar !
I'm sure that most Russians prefer Putin's steady hand to what came before.
Why not? He's following the law. Were he the autocrat the press tries to portray him, he would simply retain the presidency.
But of course Russians will decide this, not BBC readers.
While I find his Chechnya policy repugnant, for the most part Putin's policies have been good for Russia.
He is exactly what a nation struggling to emerge as a fully modern one needs, a kind of Ataturk figure.
He is a far more intelligent and able man than the ridiculous Bush.
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