Kremlin hot seat beckons Putin! - Atasi Das

Russian Prime Minister Mr. Vladimir Putin apparently wants a job swap with the Russian President Mr. Dmitry Medvedev. Russia is going to the polls in March next year.  Russia under Putin would fiercely guard its national interests, observed the incumbent. Putin has already served two consecutive six-year presidential terms- the legally allowed maximum limit in Russia. He has cited the instance of the late U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served four terms in office. It may be noted that Putin was instrumental in handpicking Dmitry Medvedev into presidency in 2008. While Putin’s popularity may well clinch the deal a third time for him, Medvedev's appointment as the next Prime minister would be determined by the ruling United Russia party's performance in the December 4 Parliamentary elections. Putin’s biggest opponent in the Parliament vote is the Communist Party- a political force which had brought the country to “collapse and ruin” according to Putin. He has promised a strengthened and refurbished political system in Russia offering progressive development and diversification of the economy. Sounding a terse warning to the western world (read the US) Putin has asked them to tackle their hydra of economic problems like rising inflation, government debt, and unemployment before accusing Russia of imperial ambitions. Though Putin is currently busy maneuvering diplomatic efforts at the international forum to induct Russia into the World Trade Organization in 2011, he has warned that too much opening up of the economy could have harmful effects for  the Russian economy, implying that while Russia is interested in getting its global elite group participation intact, it will have a calibrated approach towards the free trade doctrine of WTO.This should seem a logical conclusion for the once centrally commanded economy of Russia. Besides, globally, the advocators of free trade and free play of market mechanism are themselves now leaning on government budgetary support to pull their private enterprises back into shape. However, the detractors of Putin maintain that the way in which Putin has controlled the Russian oligarchs; it would make big ticket foreign investors think twice before investing in the country.

Putin’s return as President may have interesting implications for the Muslim republic of Chechnya also. Chechnya has seen two large-scale military offensives in two decades from Moscow, launched to keep it within Russia. It is currently being overseen by Putin strongman Mr.Ramzan Kadyrov. Two straight terms would grant Putin president-ship till 2024. While detractors are critical of the man’s obsession for power; sympathizers feel it is only his urge to execute his vision to build a dream Russia

On the political front, Russia aims to counter the growing US global influence by forging strong economic and diplomatic ties with China. Asia will gain increasing focus on the Russian foreign policy in the days to come, courtesy its expanding markets, partners and capital. Former Soviet president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mr.Mikhail Gorbachev   has opined  that in context of the current global dynamics a reformatory Obama is more welcome than a conservative Putin. Differing opinions not withstanding, Putin is a real scorer on perseverance and the Kremlin hot seat might just be waiting for him. However to introduce radical changes in the Russian economy and polity, assuming that Putin makes his way to his third term as president, what is needed is a structured policy approach ,which will be attuned to the ground realities of endemic corruption, high income inequality and a collapsing legal structure.