OPINION - Editorial

EDITORIAL: Musical chairs, to the tune of 'Russian Funeral March'

To the tune of ‘Russian Funeral March’

It looks like there's some shifting going on among the higher apparachiks in the Russian government. These days, it's mass resignations and whatnot. Stalin handled things in a different way.

Of course, one person not resigning is Vladimir Putin.

Since the calendars hit 1999, it's been clear that Vladimir Vladimirovich is a permanent fixture in Russia's leadership. Nothing happens over there without his say-so. But it appears this generation's Russian tsar wasn't happy with all his underlings. This week, dispatches said, "Putin thanked members of the government for their work but added that 'not everything worked out.' Putin added that in the near future he would meet with each member of the cabinet. The mass resignation includes [Dmitry] Medvedev. The surprise announcement came after Putin proposed constitutional amendments that would strengthen the powers of the prime minister and parliament at the expense of the presidency."

Coincidentally, those proposed massive constitutional reforms might benefit a certain somebody who proposed them--by allowing him to remain in power after his term ends in four more years. Apparently the president of Russia only needs the power to choose the prime minister and cabinet members when Vladimir Putin is president. Such duties can be assigned elsewhere when the office changes hands. Just so long as the former KGB agent has his hand on the wheel.

What's most confusing is why Vladimir Putin goes through the motions. Isn't this a lot of shells to move around the table? The man can sign a document and extend his term(s) without much public opposition. Surely most of us remember Mr. Putin's little shift of power in 2008 when he changed titles and became prime minister. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Again.

Elections in Mother Russia are shams, farces, pre-determined. Put it on the ballot, Vlad, and any changes can be passed with 90 percent of the vote. (Keep it reasonable, though. No need to repeat a Saddam Hussein-esque 99.99 percent vote margin. As Joe Kennedy was supposed to have said, I'll be damned if I'll pay for a landslide.)

Leonid Bershidsky wrote a piece way back in July that said President/Prime Minister/Godfather Putin might try to merge his country with Belarus, to give him an excuse to continue to lead a "new" country. That seems a lot of bother, too.

Why not just retire? And enjoy the billions, er, the pension he's earned?

Listen to Daniel Fried, American diplomat and Russian expert: "He's got what I call the King Lear problem. How do you go into retirement comfortably after you've done the things King Lear has done? There's a reason people are out to get you."

Once in the mob, always in the mob.

Term limits? Of course, Mr. Putin says, all the better to claim democracy and freedom at world forums.

But power limits? No way.

It might not be healthy.

Editorial on 01/17/2020

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