Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) listens to Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov (L) and presidential aide Igor Levitin onboard a helicopter in Novorossiysk, Russia, August 20, 2015. REUTERS/Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti/Kremlin
Andrei Kolesnikov and Andrew S. Weiss, Reuters: Why do Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin cronies look so nervous?
Russia’s three-year electoral cycle has gotten started with a bang.
One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest KGB cronies from his St. Petersburg days and a co-founder of the exclusive Ozero dacha housing cooperative was recently dumped from his cushy post as head of the state railway monopoly. This raised yet more speculation that Putin feels he needs to reshuffle his inner circle. The next day, Putin staged another of his trademark photo ops — piloting a mini-sub off the coast of Crimea. The Kremlin propaganda machine continues in overdrive, celebrating the destruction of banned (and allegedly toxic) foodstuffs smuggled in from the West.
Putin’s resort to theatrics clearly indicates he is gearing up to run for re-election in 2018. The annexation of Crimea and surge in Russian patriotism have pushed his approval rating to levels no Western leader can hope to replicate. The only place they can really go is down. Yet despite having no serious domestic political opponents, Putin’s path to re-election may prove complicated.
WNU Editor: I have said the same thing in the past few months .... Russia's elite are not happy, but they are not going to move against Putin to find a replacement. I also agree that Putin will be running in the next election .... and from what I understand .... it will be his last. As to what is my own personal opinion .... I wish he was not running. There are a number of good Russian leaders who may not be as recognizable as Putin, but who can do the necessary reforms that Russia needs. But more importantly .... I cannot help but feel that presenting a new Russian leader's face to the world that is not Putin .... that in itself will help to change the climate immeasurably.
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