Tsar Putin to run for Russian presidency in 2012

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/putin-run-russian-presidency-2012-113657360.html

By JIM HEINTZ - Associated Press | AP – 1 hr 25 mins ago

MOSCOW (AP) — Vladimir Putin said Saturday he'll run for Russia's presidency next year, almost certainly ensuring he'll retake the office and foreshadowing years more of a strongman rule that many in the West have criticized as a retreat from democracy. The announcement sets up the possibility that Putin could reign over Russia until 2024.

In nominating Putin on Saturday, his United Russia party also approved his proposal that President Dmitry Medvedev take over Putin's current role as prime minister. Putin took over the premiership after serving as president from 2000-2008, bowing to term limits. But he was always the more powerful figure, with Medvedev viewed as a caretaker president.

Putin's return to the presidency also is unlikely to ease Russia's dispute with the United States over the building of a European missile-defense system. Economic pressures, however, could push Putin to pursue more business-friendly policies, analysts said.

During his presidency, Putin ruled Russia with a steely command, bringing about a system known as "managed democracy" that saw opposition politicians all but eliminated from the national eye. His personal popularity aided his maneuvering. Many Russians view Putin as the strong, decisive figure needed by a sprawling country troubled by corruption, an Islamist insurgency and massive economic inequality.

Putin cultivates an image of absolute certainty, substantial strength and acerbic humor. The 58-year-old's widely covered pursuits often revolve around "manly" activities, such as hunting, fishing and motorcycling. Photos of a bare-chested Putin have been a hit.

His nomination at a congress of the United Russia party ends months of intense speculation as to whether he would seek to return to the Kremlin or whether he would allow the more mild-mannered and reform-leaning Medvedev to seek another term in next year's election.

The presidential election, to be held March 4, is preceded by national parliamentary elections on Dec. 4, in which United Russia will seek to retain its dominance; the party has 312 of the 450 seats in the current parliament.

The period for formal submission of presidential candidates' names has not yet begun, and it is unclear who might choose to challenge Putin for president. Constitutional changes have extended the presidential term to six years from four beginning in 2012, meaning Putin could stay on as president through 2024.

As president, Medvedev called for improvements in Russia's unreliable court system and for efforts against the country's endemic corruption. But his initiatives have produced little tangible result. Moving Medvedev to the premiership could set him up to take the brunt of criticism for austerity measures that Putin has warned will be necessary for Russia amid global economic turmoil.

Medvedev's advisers, likely to lose influence if he moves to the premiership, were clearly disappointed that he would not have another term in the Kremlin to try to continue pursuing reforms, and bristled at political maneuverings.

Medvedev's presidency held hopes for change "but our political elite made a different decision and chose the path to so-called stability,"

Yevgeny Gontmakher of the Medvedev-established Institute for Contemporary Development think-tank, said on Ekho Moskvy radio.

"This filthy deal of the country's supreme authorities is a blow to the institution of the presidency," Kremlin-connected analyst Gleb Pavlovsky told the radio station.

Some ordinary Russians also expressed dismay at the maneuverings.

"Medvedev has surrendered his post. That is wrong. He should have fought for what he has started and seen it through," said Vyacheslav Mazurkov, spending a cool afternoon in a central Moscow park.

Putin's return to the presidency would likely continue or even strengthen the so-called "managed democracy" system he installed in his first stint as president. Under it, opposition parties face high obstacles to winning seats in parliament; of the four parties currently in parliament only the Communists, whose support is dwindling, act as a genuine opposition force.

Opposition groups' attempts to hold rallies are rarely approved by authorities and unsanctioned gatherings are quickly broken up by police. All major television channels are under state control and rarely present opposition views.

Under Medvedev, Russia's relations with the West have been less tense, even though there has been little change in Russia's domestic politics.

The improved relations with Washington largely reflected President Barack Obama's "reset" initiative. It is unclear if Obama will win a second term next year to continue the policy with Putin in the Kremlin.

Despite Medvedev's statements of reformist intent, Russia remained under strong Western criticism. A report by the US-based NGO Freedom House last year said "there has been a steady erosion of the content, if not the formal institutions, of Russian democracy."

In a visit to Russia in March, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden exhorted Russians: "Don't compromise on the basic elements of democracy. You need not make that Faustian bargain."

The U.S. also wants to put elements of a missile-defense system in Europe, saying it is needed to counter the threat of attack from rogue nations such as Iran. But Russia has disputed the need, saying the defense missiles could instead be aimed at it, a stance that is unlikely to change with Putin back at the presidency.

Putin started a carefully orchestrated series of maneuvers at Saturday's session of the party congress in a Moscow sports arena by proposing that Medvedev head the party list for the December elections. Medvedev then proposed that Putin be the party's presidential candidate, and Putin returned to the stage to accept the proposal and express support for Medvedev as prime minister.

On his return to the stage, he found the microphone had been turned off temporarily, but said with a smile "I will speak louder. My commander's voice has not yet been lost."

The congress approved the moves with no apparent opposition. Despite apparently growing discontent among ordinary Russians with the party, United Russia exerts such an overwhelming presence in the country's politics that Putin's election and Medvedev's switch to the premiership is virtually ensured.

Many connect Putin with Russia's turnaround from post-Soviet poverty to prosperity, largely driven by high prices for Russia's vast supplies of oil and natural gas. But growing awareness of the need to move beyond a natural-resources economy could force Putin in a new term as president to pursue reforms, some analysts say.

"I expect Putin will establish a very pro-business and pro-reform cabinet," said Chris Weafer, chief strategist of the Russian investment bank Troika Dialog.

Putin also proposed Saturday that Russia's richest citizens face higher taxes. The flat income tax that came into effect during Putin's 2000-2008 presidency has been widely praised as improving tax collection and Putin's proposal would not change that, but he called for increases in consumption and real estate taxes that hit the rich comparatively harder.

Putin told the congress Friday that salaries and pensions would continue to grow, and promised increased funding for education, health care and housing. But he also cautioned that the government may need to take unpopular steps to cope with the global financial turmoil.

"The task of the government is not only to pour honey into a cup, but sometimes to give bitter medicine," Putin said. "But this should always be done openly and honestly, and then the overwhelming majority of people will understand their government."

[ONA 133]

Are you serious?

I remember talking to my history teacher about Putin winning 2012 elections in spring 2007 - I was still in my 1st year of university.

Post something about RUB women - it's more fun

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Are you serious?

I remember talking to my history teacher about Putin winning 2012 elections in spring 2007 - I was still in my 1st year of university.

Post something about RUB women - it's more fun

Agreed, but bashing Tsar Putin now and then gives this forum a little color.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Yeah definitely no surprise. I always think it's funny about how the press speculates if there's a rift between them, when I think everyone knows that every part of their relationship is carefully choreographed. Medvedev will run also, Putin will win, it's all been planned out years ahead of time.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

No surprise. And he will win. The Russian people like him.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

It was on the Russian news just now that Tsar Putin is going to switch places with his puppet Medvedev. If that isn't a dictatorship then I don't know what is.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It was on the Russian news just now that Tsar Putin is going to switch places with his puppet Medvedev. If that isn't a dictatorship then I don't know what is.

Except that they have a greater turnover of members in their legislature than we do.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Except that they have a greater turnover of members in their legislature than we do.

You ever read about the peeps that are in the Kremlin fold that fall out of Tsar Putin's good graces? It makes the mafia here look like choir boys.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You ever read about the peeps that are in the Kremlin fold that fall out of Tsar Putin's good graces? It makes the mafia here look like choir boys.

Good thing Anthony Weiner is not in the Duma.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Was there ever any question that Medvedev would give up his position when Putin was eligible to be president again? The whole thing has been a sham from the beginning. Tsar Putin even managed to change the time period to six years allowing him to be president into his seventies, assuming he hasn't declared himself the president for life. As for Medvedev, he's just smart to take another cake walk job with high prestige rather than get the treatment of journalists and other opposition politicians.

Did anyone actually think this would not happen?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Was there ever any question that Medvedev would give up his position when Putin was eligible to be president again? The whole thing has been a sham from the beginning. Tsar Putin even managed to change the time period to six years allowing him to be president into his seventies, assuming he hasn't declared himself the president for life. As for Medvedev, he's just smart to take another cake walk job with high prestige rather than get the treatment of journalists and other opposition politicians.

Did anyone actually think this would not happen?

Nah, he was a space retainer from the start.

[Captain Hammer 113]

Did anyone actually think this would not happen?

If there was even the slightest bit of doubt, it was if Medvedev would play PM or if Putin would fire him and find someone even more malleable.

Oh well. At least Russians live under no illusions of freedom. The same can't really be said for us.

[AmyWrites 593]

Russians like Putin, and freedom in their mentality is more of a burden than a wonderful right. It's not logical to view Russians (or any other culture by that manner) as if they are Americans or aspire to be.

Medvedev and Putin even studied under the same law profs. I'm sure they know each other as more than just politicians.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Russians like Putin, and freedom in their mentality is more of a burden than a wonderful right. It's not logical to view Russians (or any other culture by that manner) as if they are Americans or aspire to be.

Medvedev and Putin even studied under the same law profs. I'm sure they know each other as more than just politicians.

Russians in that manner are more akin to their Asian cousins in regards to totalitarian regimes, murdering journalist, politicians, and human rights workers. It's from being under the thumb of the Golden Horde for 300+ years and it had a definite effect.

[ONA 133]

Russians in that manner are more akin to their Asian cousins in regards to totalitarian regimes, murdering journalist, politicians, and human rights workers. It's from being under the thumb of the Golden Horde for 300+ years and it had a definite effect.

It's not because of that.

Do you know why prince (knyaz) Vladimir (Vladimir... LOL) decided that Orthodox Christianity is the best religion for what was at that time Kievan Rus? Well, one of the reasons was that it meant more power for Rusian princes (and than for tzars). According to Russian Orthodox Church Tzar was sort of God's deputy on Earth. That's where it all comes from and that's why I don't like church that much.