Putin to Lead United Russia List for Parliamentary Elections

Chekist and President Vladimir Putin has announced that he will head the electoral list for his party, United Russia, in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Under the list system used in Russia and a great many other nations, being top of the list almost guarantees a seat; a party would have to fail to get enough votes for even one representative to prevent it. That means that Mr. Putin is not retiring and will not go quietly. Indeed, he could be the next Prime Minister.

Under Russia’s constitution, he cannot serve a third consecutive term as President of the Russian Federation. However, he is not barred from taking another job. Having made is old pal Viktor Zubkov the latest PM, Mr. Putin could arrange a job swap. Since Mr. Zubkov is seen as a supporter (indeed, a puppet by some) of Mr. Putin, such an arrangement would continue the Putin regime using a slightly amended org-chart.

What set the chattering off was a statement by Mr. Putin at the conference of United Russia in which he said his selection as Prime Minister was “entirely realistic.” In fairness, he added that it was “too early to think about it.” However, since he will be a member of the Duma after the next round of voting, it is entirely possible and, as he said, realistic.

To Americans, this may seem a bit odd. Presidents in that republic retire once they have served. Jimmy Carter builds houses and monitors elections (and is the best ex-president of the bunch, after serving a pretty lousy term in the White House). Mr. Reagan lived and Mr. Bush the Elder lives the life of a very wealthy retiree. Mr. Clinton has served in helping tsunami and hurricane victims (along with Mr. Bush his predecessor) while he seeks a more concrete role (his wife may find him one in a year or so). But it wasn’t always so: William Howard Taft followed the presidency by serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; John Quincy Adams was a congressman after being president.

Yet, there is something a bit more sinister in the case of Mr. Putin. This journal has maintained for years that he is playing the role of tsar and the oligarchs who own much of Russia are cast in the role of boyars, the nobility. The fight of the center against the periphery will continue no matter which men succeed as president and prime minister. Mr. Putin and his crew (ex-KGB most of them) seem determined to retain power while keeping the form (not function) of democracy. In 2012, Mr. Putin could constitutionally become president again through 2020, when he would still be a relatively young 68. He could conceivably never leave the Kremlin until the Grim Reaper visits.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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