Reply With QuoteWhat are Russian members opinions on this please?
Medvedev may run for a second presidential term
http://www.france24.com/en/20100424-...ice-putin-2012******* - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said he may run for a second term in office when elections are held in 2012.
"If this is necessary for my country and for the preservation of the course that has been formed in the last few years...I do not rule out absolutely anything for myself, including participation in this election," Medvedev told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten in an interview.
A transcript was published on the Kremlin website on Saturday before Medvedev's visit to Norway.
Medvedev reaches the midpoint of his four-year term next month and speculation is building in Moscow about whether he will stand again or leave the field clear for his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, to return to the Kremlin.
Most Russians believe Putin remains the ultimate decision-maker and wishes to keep the levers of power well beyond 2012, though he may choose to do so from a different post than the presidential one.
Medvedev, a long-time close ally of Putin, has drawn fire from opponents for promising bold reforms but failing to deliver. Some critics say he has no intention of making serious changes and is merely window-dressing.
Proponents say he understands the changes Russia needs and has a sincere desire to push through reform but is moving slowly and cautiously to avoid clashes with powerful hardliners.
Medvedev said in the interview that two conditions would have to be met for him to take part in the 2012 presidential election:
"First, as a minimum, the results of my work should be acceptable to our citizens; also, we should be guided by (a wish) to achieve a result rather than simply participate. Therefore, we shall see," Medvedev said.
Putin has already said that he and Medvedev will come to an agreement before the 2012 election about who should stand.
Some analysts have suggested that Putin and Medvedev could run against each other, offering voters differing visions of the future, but Medvedev's comments about wanting to achieve a result rather than just participating suggest he does not favour this option.
Most pundits believe that Putin's popular touch, long experience and strong ******* with ordinary Russians would enable him to trounce the wooden-sounding, lawyerly Medvedev in any direct contest between them.
Putin's own high popularity among Russian voters, the Kremlin's control of the country's political machinery and the weakness of the opposition mean that the candidate nominated by the current leadership is virtually assured victory in the 2012 election.
What are Russian members opinions on this please?
Who cares! What is Putin's opinion on this issue?Originally Posted by tea drinker
Let me call him and I'll get back to you.
Obviously Pootie is in agreement.
He will lose.
It was always the plan that Medvedev will stand in the election unless he screwed up royally during the first term, in which case Putin would have stepped in. Since Medvedev seems to be doing just fine, I think the political establishment is comfortable with letting Medvedev take full reins in the next election.
Russia has developed a somewhat Chinese-like model, where each previous leader stays for a while on in a secondary support capacity while his successor establishes his own base of support.
Deng Xiaoping stepped down as president, but remained the chief of the Chinese militaty while Jiang Zemin ruled as the Chinese President. Then Jiang stepped down as president, but remained the head of the military while Hu Jintao solidified his political base as President. Soon Hu will step down, but stay on for a couple of years in a secondary capacity.
Putin is the Russian Deng. He wants to make sure that Medvedev isn't going to wreck the political system he created, so he stays on in secondary capacity while Medvedev creates his own political support base. If Medvedev stands for election next time, I see Putin going into comfortable retirement as the new generation takes over. Most likely Putin will remain in some sort of unofficial advisory capacity, but I doubt that he'll keep any formal post.
Personal power is never really the key issue for people like Putin, but the preservation of the political system of governance is.
I would say that's a fair conclusion.
However, I see Putin's enormous popularity playing a role in whether he'll "retire", or stay relatively at the forefront of Russian politics. I still think it's likely that he will assume the office of President of the Russian Federation, albeit, maybe later than 2012.
While he is a relatively young guy, the next election after 2012 is going to be in 2018 and one thing I am pretty sure of is that Putin doesn't want to be remembered as the second Brezhnev (or worse, second Yeltsin).
Considering how he positioned his public persona over the years, I just don't think we'll be seeing him in a public capacity for such a long time. Behind the scenes, as a sort of Kissinger-like grey eminence, maybe, but not in a public office.
As a russian I can say that i would prefer to see Medvedev rather than Putin. People are generally greatfull that Putin brought some order when it was actually needed. In the ninetees criminal gangs ruled the streets, the economy was in a bad shape, social walfare was misereble... But he is seen as a hardliner, a man from the kgb with corresponding worldview (wich isn't necessarely a bad thing here in Russia). But Medvedev is a lawyer and somebody who really tries to make Russia a state in wich laws are respected above all. Given that thins are calmed down now Medvedev seems to be more suiteble for the presidential role. If Putin goes for elections many would view it as an undemocratic choice made by him and Edinaya Rossiya party. They would definitely loose some support, not all of course. As for Medvedevs ability to combat corruption, many realize it is a very difficult task, and Putin hasn't done much either. Well I know a lot of people here that want to see every single politician and oligarch dead anyway, so i can't speek for all russians...
Funny thing is - there actually isnt anybody else for this post beside this two guys. So its 100% sure that one of them will be next president. There are no real alternatives to them.
If there will be a choice between Putin and Medvedev, I will choose Medvedev. He is more suitable as a President in current situation.
Alternatives always exists in Russia. Just give that currently unknown person enough air time on TV and start all kinds of political PR (like hunting polar bears in tundra together with Putin) and speculation about him. So he will get very known to general Russian public and Putin Medvedev duo will prepare him for his new position.
What's wrong with Zhirik or the commies?
....
I think Eduard Limonov and Garry Kasparov should rule Russia.
At least that is what the mainstream media in my country thinks
Sounds totally legit. Russia will enter a golden age of pro-western democratic chess fascism.
Posting Permissions
