Backsliding In Russia
By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in Foreign Affairs — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Vladimir Putin won't go gently into that good night:
President Vladimir Putin said Monday he would lead the dominant party's ticket in December parliamentary elections and suggested he could become prime minister, the strongest indication yet that he will seek to retain power after he steps down as president early next year.
Putin is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in the March presidential election, but has strongly indicated he would seek to keep a hand on Russia's reins.He agreed to head the United Russia party's candidate list in December, which could open the door for him to become a powerful prime minister--leading in tandem with a weakened president.
Putin called a proposal that he become prime minister "entirely realistic," but added that it was still "too early to think about it."
He said that, first, United Russia would have to win the Dec. 2 elections and a "decent, competent, modern person" must be elected president.
The translation for "decent, competent, modern person," of course, is "must agree with Vladimir Putin on just about everything."
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Backsliding In Russia 3 Comments (0 topical, 3 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Russia's economy has been booming, along with the rise in global oil prices. And they don't seem to be getting as much of the nasty inflation that everyone else in a similar position is getting. (I include China in that because they also are exporting a low-cost commodity at a high price, except that it's not oil.)
Things have scarcely looked better since the USSR fell for a restoration of Russia to world-power status, which has long been Putin's dream.
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Reality: Thompson/Romney Dream: Santorum/Watts.