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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia | |
| Russian government resigns - Prime Minister Medvedev | |
| 2020-01-15 | |
| [Jpost] In power as either president or prime minister since 1999, Putin, 67, is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that the government he heads was resigning to give President Vladimir Putin room to carry out changes he wants to make to the constitution. Medvedev made the announcement on state TV sitting next to Putin who thanked Medvedev, a close ally, for his work. President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed giving parliament the power to choose Russia's prime minister and other key positions, a major change to the Russian constitution that may offer a hint about his own future. Putin's comments are likely to reignite speculation about his plans once his current presidential term ends in 2024. Critics have long accused him of plotting to stay on in some capacity to wield power over the world's largest nation after he steps down. He remains popular with many Russians who see him as a welcome source of stability even as others complain he's been in power for too long. In his annual state-of-the-nation speech, Putin said the changes he was proposing to Russia's political system -- handing parliament and the prime minister more power at the expense of the president -- were so serious that he wanted a nationwide referendum to be held to agree them. In power as either president or prime minister since 1999, Putin, 67, is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends.
Putin submitted his candidacy to the Russian parliament for approval after Mishustin agreed to be put forward for the role, the Kremlin said. | |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #13 ^ ie: - destroyed the savings of tens of millions of US households and created an Oligarchy of shitty little Robber Barons - constantly trashed their predecessors, apologized instead of praising his nation's achievements, and reduced our power and standing in the world - helped other countries to gain at our expense - chased international celebrity with stupid, empty virtue-signaling beaux gestes while his people suffered and while their longevity actually DECLINED |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-01-15 21:48 |
| #12 W & Zero = America's version of Yeltsin & Gorbachev. |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-01-15 21:09 |
| #11 I am tempted to apply it with Obama and Biden as substituted. |
| Posted by: daniel 2020-01-15 19:49 |
| #10 #2 - I'm a bad man for laughing so hard |
| Posted by: Frank G 2020-01-15 19:21 |
| #9 *in world affairs |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-01-15 18:42 |
| #8 Pensions are paid. Savings are not disappearing. Russia is feared and respected on the world stage. None of the above was the case during Russia's fling with western liberalism -- the period of "shock therapy" during which most Russians were plunged into poverty, the nation's prime assets were stolen ("pirat-ization"), and Russia became a patsy or even a laughingstock in works affairs. Given the above, Russians are willing to forgive Putin his thuggery and banditry. |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-01-15 18:41 |
| #7 Semi-overly aggressive, anyway, and not all that quiet — though he has’t pounded tables with someone else’s shoe in public that I’m aware of. Though all those photos of him riding bare chested across the taiga and walking his pet tiger are not that different than President Trump’s tweets in terms of vulgarly redefining the terms of the debate. Still, it’s wise to respect powerful, dangerous men who do it well. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2020-01-15 18:06 |
| #6 I agree wit you varmint |
| Posted by: Chris 2020-01-15 17:28 |
| #5 Putin has made Russia a stable, non-overly agressive bear in the world-wide circus. He is a strong, quiet leader. So far, I respect him. |
| Posted by: Varmint Splat1454 2020-01-15 15:37 |
| #4 See also: "Term Limits, How To Avoid." Every time someone brings up Term Limits as the panacea for misgovernment I consider the cases of (1) UK's "Gray Men" -- the standing bureaucracy that implements or ignores the passing fancies of Parliament; and (2) Musical Chair relationships like often happens in South America and its dynasties... Putin is just a very blatant case of (2). |
| Posted by: magpie 2020-01-15 13:48 |
| #3 well that's convenient |
| Posted by: Chris 2020-01-15 13:11 |
| #2 A favorite joke: Putin and Medvedev are dining at a fancy restaurant. When the waiter comes to take their order, Putin says, "I will have the steak." The waiter asks, "And the vegetable?" Putin says, "He will have the steak also." |
| Posted by: SteveS 2020-01-15 13:08 |
| #1 Pretty obviously so Trump can run him as VP! /Pelosi |
| Posted by: Frank G 2020-01-15 12:42 |