"Entire" Russian Government Resigns.

[dudalb]

I think realistically, Putin is content with the titles he has.

Again, part of what keeps Putin in office is that he is in fact popular with a lot of Russian people. This is a very powerful advantage, because it means the oligarchy can afford to indulge in many of the trappings and functions of a democratically-elected government. I'm sure there are a number of Russians who would welcome a return to Tsardom. But it's bound to be a delicate subject. The last thing any of the power elites in Russia want to do right now is queer the play by reaching farther than they can grasp.

And Putin strikes me as being pragmatic enough to understand and appreciate that it's the power that matters, not the title that goes with it. Kind of like a Reverse Trump.

Trump supporter praised Putin.What a surprise.

 

[dudalb]

Putin is not eligable to run for president again in 2024 so he's stripping the office of power and giving it to the office of the Prime Minister instead.
There are no constitutional limits to the number of terms a Russian Prime Minister can have. Putin was already one for four years when he ran out of presidential terms the first time around.

A slightly less bad way to do the same would be to just remove the constitutional term limits altogether. He's doing basically the same thing but in the meantime he's setting an even worse precendens for the future of Russia. Plus the pretense serves no one.

McHrozni

He a Czar in everything but name.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Trump supporter praised Putin.What a surprise.

I think you're misinterpreting. I see nothing in that post that's praising Putin.

 

[Vixen]

After the fall of the Soviet Union, a kleptocratic oligarchy (oligarchic kleptocracy?) emerged from the ruins. Vladimir Putin is their Chief Executive Fixer. As long as he uses the power of the government to protect the interests of the oligarchs, they will see to it that the government protects the power of Vladimir Putin.

And, in addition to being popular with the oligarchs, Putin is also popular with a lot of Russians. Even elected officials who want to take a stand agains the oligarchs still have to face electoral reality as well as criminal reality.

Putin despises the multi-millionaire oligarchs, viewing them as corrupt and not true communists.

 

[theprestige]

I think you're misinterpreting. I see nothing in that post that's praising Putin.

I think recognizing that Putin has some qualities that make him an effective Fixer for the Russian Oligarchy counts as Incorrect Thought, or something.

 

[theprestige]

Putin despises the multi-millionaire oligarchs, viewing them as corrupt and not true communists.

Bless your heart, Vixen.

 

[jimbob]

Putin despises the multi-millionaire oligarchs, viewing them as corrupt and not true communists.

Bless your heart, Vixen.

Yup.

Putin despises the multi-millionaire oligarchs, viewing them as prey who are too poor and powerless to defend themselves against even his nominally personal resources let alone the wealth and resources that he commands for his personal use.

 

[McHrozni]

He a Czar in everything but name.

I do wonder what his plan after his eventual demise is.

I imagine it's to be taxidermied and displayed on Red Square, like Lenin and (for a while) Stalin.

McHrozni

 

[Venom]

Not before his face is injected with multiple vials of Botox and Juvederm Voluma to at least keep his tough guy act alive.

 

[KDLarsen]

After the fall of the Soviet Union, a kleptocratic oligarchy (oligarchic kleptocracy?) emerged from the ruins. Vladimir Putin is their Chief Executive Fixer. As long as he uses the power of the government to protect the interests of the oligarchs, they will see to it that the government protects the power of Vladimir Putin.

And, in addition to being popular with the oligarchs, Putin is also popular with a lot of Russians. Even elected officials who want to take a stand agains the oligarchs still have to face electoral reality as well as criminal reality.

I don't know how popular he is with the oligarchs though, there was a rumour that one of the first things he did, when he came to power in 2000, was to call a meeting with them, and explain a new "25%" rule to them.

They were to pay him 25% of their earnings (and stay out of politics), in exchange for him letting them keep up their looting. Were they to run afoul of this rule, well... a quick trial for tax fiddling or embezzlement could quickly be arranged, with the assets of the accused reverting to the Russian state.

 

[Vixen]

Yup.

Putin despises the multi-millionaire oligarchs, viewing them as prey who are too poor and powerless to defend themselves against even his nominally personal resources let alone the wealth and resources that he commands for his personal use.

You can sneer but that is Putin's stance. He really doesn't like these guys.

 

[Vixen]

Not before his face is injected with multiple vials of Botox and Juvederm Voluma to at least keep his tough guy act alive.

He is a tough guy: fishes, swims in icy cold water, plays ice hockey and is ultra fit for a man of his age. Compare and contrast to Boris.

 

[timhau]

You can sneer but that is Putin's stance. He really doesn't like these guys.

How do. you know this?

 

[Vixen]

How do. you know this?

BBC documentary about him.

 

[ajelehtija]

BBC documentary about him.

Saying that Putin despises the oligarchs because they aren't true communists implies that Putin is. That's pretty far out there. Putin doesn't despise the oligarchs, he's one of them and he's fine with those who support him or don't oppose him. Those that do he forces into compliance one way or another.

 

[Venom]

Saying that Putin despises the oligarchs because they aren't true communists implies that Putin is. That's pretty far out there. Putin doesn't despise the oligarchs, he's one of them and he's fine with those who support him or don't oppose him. Those that do he forces into compliance one way or another.

Yup.

The oligarchs helped Putin come to power. Without Boris Berezovsky's influence in particular it's unlikely Yeltsin would have ever chosen Putin as prime minister and put him on the path to the presidency.

 

[Vixen]

Saying that Putin despises the oligarchs because they aren't true communists implies that Putin is. That's pretty far out there. Putin doesn't despise the oligarchs, he's one of them and he's fine with those who support him or don't oppose him. Those that do he forces into compliance one way or another.

Putin is an admirer of Stalin (the good version, presumably).

Coming from lowly stock himself, I believe him when he claims he resents the oligarchs and the corruption that surrounds them.

 

[Darat]

Putin is an admirer of Stalin (the good version, presumably).



Coming from lowly stock himself, I believe him when he claims he resents the oligarchs and the corruption that surrounds them.

The oligarchs also come from "lowly stock" why would he resent his fellow lowly stock?

 

[ajelehtija]

Putin is an admirer of Stalin (the good version, presumably).

Coming from lowly stock himself, I believe him when he claims he resents the oligarchs and the corruption that surrounds them.

I think it's possible that he does resent them, but he also needs them. IIRC early on Putin made an agreement with the oligarchs that in exchange for support and giving up political ambitions he would protect them. The corruption has also been vital to Putin's rule as laws going unenforced has allowed him to suddenly enforce them and put oligarchs in prison if they do develop political ambitions in opposition to Putin.

Stalin is admired in Russia primarily because he won the war and admiration for him is not an indication for being a communist. Putin being a communist is a totally unfounded assertion whether he admires Stalin or not.

 

[timhau]

Coming from lowly stock himself, I believe him when he claims he resents the oligarchs and the corruption that surrounds them.

I don't, not for a minute. The corruption exists because he allows it, and he allows it because it benefits him too.