Putin to run for president (again)

ILikeBananas

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he has accepted a proposal to stand for president in March 2012.

Addressing the ruling United Russia party's annual congress, Mr Putin and current President Dmitry Medvedev backed one another to switch roles.

Probably one of the least surprising pieces of political news we're likely to hear this year.

I had dinner with a university professor 2 weeks ago who was from Moscow but is now working in the UK. I asked him would he ever return to live in Russia. He emphatically said "No". He went on to say that it was a failed state with endemic corruption, where the police are basically an armed gang of thugs and everything is for sale. Interestingly enough, he also predicted that it would collapse in on itself in five years time due to the fact that the only thing keeping the country going is the gas and oil money which they are so reliant on.

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Nodin

...to be honest, if it survived Yeltsin, it'll survive these two. Agree with the rest though - it's very 'wild west' out east.

Red Right Hand

Why should we put up with this... wait... you're on about Russia, aren't you...

irishh_bob

medveded decides he wants his pupeteer to run again , now thiers a surprise

johngalway

I suppose the one (the only?) good thing to come out of that unsurprising announcement is that the world can look forward to more of <this>.

In Putins Russia, the urns find you :cool:

I understood they had a bit a dispute for a while because Dmitry was getting notions that he wanted to stay president. Other than that, yes it's pretty unsurprising.
More propaganda pictures to follow!

http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enough/files/2010/11/putin-dog-240.jpg

Ah yes here we are
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20110413/163516519.html
and gorbachev did not approve either
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0302/Mikhail-Gorbachev-says-Putin-should-not-run-for-Russian-presidency-again

Manach

It could be worst, a lot worst - i.e. power struggles of Stalin and the era of weakness pre-October revolution.

ILikeBananas

Vladimir Putin will not take part in Russian presidential election debates because of his duties as prime minister, his spokesman has announced.

Taking time off for debates would "undoubtedly impede his ability to duly carry out his duties", Dmitriy Peskov told Russian media.

Despite marathon TV chats and news conferences, the two-time president has never debated with challengers.

His Communist rivals have accused him of seeking an unfair advantage.

I reckon Enda would have tried this excuse too if he could have gotten away with it.

Seriously though what a sham of an election.

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MadsL

Always admired Vaclav Havel's stance on Putin...

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel welcomed a German panel's decision Saturday to retract a role model prize, the same he received in 2009, from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
"Vaclav Havel thinks it was very wise of the panel to reconsider its choice," Havel's secretary Sabina Tancevova told AFP.
"The award should be given to people like Anna Politkovskaya or Sergei Kovalov or Liu Xiaobo -- people who devoted their lives to protection of human rights and freedoms and promoting democracy," she added.
The German media reported earlier that Havel wanted to return his award in protest at Putin's nomination.

Jonny7

Ah Putin - better the devil you know.

He's not too bad for the rest of the world, not going to speak on the average Russians behalf though.. at least he was knocked somewhat off his pedestal recently with the large protests.

ILikeBananas

MadsL wrote: »

Always admired Vaclav Havel's stance on Putin...

I guess that's why the Russian government didn't offer their condolences on Havel's death last month despite offering the North Korean regime its condolences on Kim Jong-il's demise.

brimal

BBC 2 are airing 'Putin, Russia And The West' Thurs 19th at 9pm. It's a 4-part series.

The series is created by Brook Lapping and has the likes of David Miliband, Condoleezza Rice, George Bush, Putin's colleagues, etc. sharing personal experiences they had with the man.

Worth a watch definitely.

wes

Not unexpected at all. I guess all his planning has paid off for him. Unfortunate for Russia as some new blood running the country would be a good thing.

brimal

brimal wrote: »

BBC 2 are airing 'Putin, Russia And The West' Thurs 19th at 9pm. It's a 4-part series.

The series is created by Brook Lapping and has the likes of David Miliband, Condoleezza Rice, George Bush, Putin's colleagues, etc. sharing personal experiences they had with the man.

Worth a watch definitely.

Reminder. Starts tonight at 9pm.

BBC have released a snippet from the documentary which reveals UK spying on Russia using a fake rock (and how Putin reacted after finding out)

Sunnyisland

Watching it now.

europa11

Bertie for Russia.

They need him more than we do.

Son Of A Vidic

Despite what some may think, Putin never stopped being president.