3rd in a row for Putin?

[Tuomas]

Well the Russian constitution, sectrion 1, part 6 says the same as the one here. Each president can be re-elected only once. So practically that would mean 2 times the 4 yes assignment, after which the president would retire and a new one would be picked from the candidates.

Now as I understand it, most probably the next president in the elections in 6 months will be either Putin's right hand, Medvedev or the vice prime minister Ivanov. Putin himself has said that he will not be there for changing the constitution. However it says in a local paper here, also in NY times, and in some Russia papers, that a commitee for changing the constitution does exist, and /or the possibility is being contemplated on.

Now last week the Russian press published pictures of the president with no shirt on and muscles showing, and printed tips how to get such a shape at the age of 53. Apparently this campaign has been a success among ladies and the gay community, that including internet forums and specialised magazines filled with admiration and chatter about how masculine and handsome the president is. some reckon this is the start of a campaign that will be realism after the announcement from the commitee after the vacation periods in August, which is very soon.

Putin seems to be enjoying high supporting rates, and it appears there's even been names gathered to keep the man in power. The opposition seems to have no chance as it seems to have become a trend, that the late president names the follower, as happened with Yeltsin and Putin. Basically the country seems to like strong leaders, or so it seems to me.

And it can't be a coinsidence, that lately in fact, "Russian investigators have arrested 10 people involved in the murder of the crusading journalist Anna Politkovskaya, and perhaps also the killing of an American journalist, Paul Klebnikov, and the deputy head of the Russian Central Bank, Andrei Kozlov. That is what Russia’s prosecutor general, Yuri Chaika, announced the other day."

Mr. Chaika’s bombshell was his suggestion that the mastermind behind the hits was an exile interested in stirring up chaos and resentment against Mr. Putin. That happens to confirm what Mr. Putin himself suggested only three days after Ms. Politkovskaya’s murder last Oct. 7 — that there were fugitives from Russian justice bent on sacrificing somebody “in order to create a wave of anti-Russian feeling in the world.”

The fact, that suddenly the three assasinations were all solved, and the men prosecuted are the ones that Putin himself first suspected for it, doesn't really convince the western press, especially NY times, and it goes without saying, that most think this is just propaganda for the upcoming elections. I think there's a big possibility too. As much as I know Medvedev, he seems like a liberal, an easy going man, a lawyer. But not the type that would lead a huge state with a tendency for striving for hegemony and the great arsenal they're building. Whereas Ivanov is yet another ex-KGB agent, who is a harsh man, but doesn't really have a political agenda. He used to work in Finland for several years before was promoted to the Russian parliament but Putin in february. Also it seems that if a miracle should happen, the opposition could maybe bring such names up as garry Kasparov and Mihail Kasjanov. Well, afaik, Kasjanov isn't going to run for president, but Kasparov seems to be a bit popular, seeing as he is the multiple world champion of chess, and a recognisable human rights activist. Although he has refused the spot, some believe he'll still run for Putins place.

As I said, I think Putin is going to do another 4 years, and if it's not worse, it can't really be better for the world or for Russia alone (though I find it hard to speak of Russia alone when most of what they do have international effects). And should they be changing the constitution, I don't know if I was then to call it a dictatorship. It's obvious that one man runs the nation, and if he can do it for another 4 years just because he wants to, there's no preventing the next 20 years perhaps. And this could basically happen everywhere. Now we have a good biopolar world between the Bush and the Putin, but what will happen when the US goes through changes while Russia stays the way it is? I think it's worth discussing, I find it really interesting. One could contemplate the problem why this happens, and why do people still vote for Putin. Well personally I think it goes very deep into societal infrastructures there. Basically the opposition is really invisible, and has been pretty much eliminated, so given that people have no choise it's obvious what they'll go for. The US is another thing, there you have two parties that are basically the same, but still the democratic aspects are kept alive by giving the people a chance to vote (more or less). Well, we'll see. Give us your thoughts on this. MAke questions, anything, and tell me, will Putin be there, and what if? Especially if you're Russians, I don't know much, but what I know, I wrote here, more or less.

[Lionmonkey]

1. It's "Hlebov", not "klebov"! What's wrong with you people? Why can't you spell Russian names right? And I don't even want to speak about pronunciation. If you think Russia is sooo important, why don't you care about this?

2. Now about the main thing. Who cares? Candidates use dirty moves to be elected, rise their own raiting, blah blah blah... Nothing unusual. Most people have already become used to this. In fact, thy see so little differences between their choise, that they vote randomly. Or flip a coin. I'm russian and I don't care too. The presidents switch or stay, nothing changes. The situation won't change. Someone newly elected fulfills some of his/her promises, but then destroys good stuff left by the ex-guy. Small nuances may change, the situation won't. So it doesn't matter , if it was all set up by Putin to be re-elected or not. People won't buy it.

3. Now about the "international relations". Do you know why Russia does all this stuff? Don't trust all the stuff about improving friendship with other countries, and other blahs. Russia does all this to gain world attenton. You see, when America was discovered, the news about that spreaded fast. Soon the whole Eastern globe was talking about the New World. Attention to Europe and other countries faded, because America was something new. the new always seems something better, because the old is too old and boring. So, other countries do something extreme to regain this attention. Not like it stays for too long.

Just practising.

[Tuomas]

1. It's "Hlebov", not "klebov"! What's wrong with you people? Why can't you spell Russian names right? And I don't even want to speak about pronunciation. If you think Russia is sooo important, why don't you care about this?

Oh shut it, I quoted the NY times, so I wouldn't know better. If they write it like that way, I'd rather write it like that because I consider them a somewhat reliable source, and even though I know the names are written differently in say, English and my language, people here are more likely to understand the English ones.

2. Now about the main thing. Who cares? Candidates use dirty moves to be elected, rise their own raiting, blah blah blah... Nothing unusual. Most people have already become used to this. In fact, thy see so little differences between their choise, that they vote randomly. Or flip a coin. I'm russian and I don't care too. The presidents switch or stay, nothing changes. The situation won't change. Someone newly elected fulfills some of his/her promises, but then destroys good stuff left by the ex-guy. Small nuances may change, the situation won't. So it doesn't matter , if it was all set up by Putin to be re-elected or not. People won't buy it.

Is this a common way of seeing it? Someone did mention though, that the Russians don't care about politics. Tht they don't give a fu*k who leads them to what or what is done to their welfare.

3. Now about the "international relations". Do you know why Russia does all this stuff? Don't trust all the stuff about improving friendship with other countries, and other blahs. Russia does all this to gain world attenton. You see, when America was discovered, the news about that spreaded fast. Soon the whole Eastern globe was talking about the New World. Attention to Europe and other countries faded, because America was something new. the new always seems something better, because the old is too old and boring. So, other countries do something extreme to regain this attention. Not like it stays for too long.

Just practising.

I'm sorry, since America was found? 500 years ago? And what do you mean by all the stuff, the post communist era or the whole history of regional politics from 1492? I never mentioned improving relationships with anyone, even america since that's obviously something Putin has not been about. I'm sorry, I dont' quite get your point here.

[Nacho]

What is Russia?

[Tuomas]

It'sa big country to the east, that's what it is. Nevermind then.