Vladimir Putin cries after winning an unprecedented third term.
Putin 2012: At the Zenith of Power, His Influence is Bound to Diminish (Tagesschau, Germany)
"No doubt
about it: Putin has arrived at the zenith of his power. Skilled in debate, he
parries criticism aimed at himself, his political style, and his country, with
examples of inadequacy in other nations. This is most successful in the case of
the United States. He can be certain of approval from the Russian people and
media in equal measure. But a Zenith is a summit - from there, things usually
go down in all directions."
Putin and the press: Secure in his place at the pinnacle of Russian power, Vladimr Putin regailed the public with a four-hour press conference on Dec. 20.
ARD Radio, Moscow: Back in the Kremlin, the
Russian president is well aware of his power and will not relinquish it. He can
even afford to play openly with the temptation of being repeatedly re-elected: after
all, he would have easily been able to pass a simple amendment to the
Constitution with a 300-vote majority. As he didn't do so, his style of
governance is allegedly not authoritarian. We reject that theory.
Like a pop star in
front of fans
The supremacy of the old/new president didn't fail to
impress the 1,200 journalists who competed for the right to pose questions and get autographs as if they were at a Lady Gaga
concert. Now with a
smile, now with an ironic grin, at times with a serious, hostile expression and
with eyes narrowed to slits as he examined his fingernails - Putin is in
command of the hall - and the country.
Posted by Worldmeets.US
Opposition only occurs on the margins - he knows that he is
hardly threatened by it. He blames former politicians who have changed camps
for having left behind chaos - especially in the provinces.
The Putin system is
running smoothly
Putin knows that his system has met with approval. The
system, which dispenses with parliamentary debate, runs like a well-oiled
machine. When the State Duma [lower house of
parliament] decides to ban adoptions by U.S. citizens, Putin, despite
misgivings within his own cabinet and a lack of popular support, is able to signal
an emotional consensus - while keeping the back door open on whether or not he
signs the legislation [Putin signed the bill on Dec. 27]. Perhaps this will allow
him to again be seen as a humane protector of Russian orphans, while still keeping
his frustrations about the United States well nourished.
For the law is a hasty retort to the so-called Magnitzky
List of the U.S. Congress, which forbids certain Russians from entering the
United States because of the violent death of a Moscow lawyer.
Criticism is
countered with a smooth response
Putin plays the keyboard of a state that aspires to answer to
the rule of law, but does not. Who can believe in a coincidence when, at the very
moment of his mammoth press conference, an announcement is made that Russia's
most prominent prisoner, Mikhail Khodorovsky, has
had his sentence reduced by two years? Putin indignantly rejects the
presumption that he influenced the decision - most likely the questioner doesn't
understand the court system. Or is that why he asked? And besides, Putin
assures, this was not a personal vendetta against the man who was once the
richest in Russia.
No doubt about it: Putin has arrived at the zenith of his
power. Skilled in debate, he parries criticism aimed at himself, his political
style, and his country, with examples of inadequacy in other nations. This is
most successful in the case of the United States. He can be certain of approval
from the Russian people and media in equal measure. But a Zenith is a summit -
from there, things usually go down in all directions.
