Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed constitutional changes on Wednesday that would give him scope to extend his grip on power after leaving the presidency, and picked a new prime minister after Dmitry Medvedev and his cabinet stepped down.
Most importantly, Putin suggested diminishing the powers of the presidency and beefing up those of the prime minister.
The dramatic moves were widely seen as preparing the ground for 2024, when Putin, now 67, is obliged to leave the presidency after occupying the Kremlin or the prime minister's job continuously since 1999.
The new prime minister is a gray man who Putin will control.
Well, the suspense of whether Putin would try to remain in power was killing me.
Putin has options from taking Belarus and becoming the ruler of the entity that would be formed from Russia and Belarus to simply transferring his powers to whatever office he happens to hold.
He could be the postmaster general of Russia--or Hell, rub his absolute power in and take that office in some tiny seaside resort--if he has the authority to run Russia moved there.
And as long as Putin has a personally loyal military force at his back, who's going to object?
Still, Putin counts on his people not noticing that he is effing up royally. If that happens, other people with power might challenge Putin.
#WhyRussiaCan'tHaveNiceThings
UPDATE: One day Russia will be free? Not as long as Putin has anything to say about that.
UPDATE: More.
UPDATE: Nobody expects the Putin constitutional revision.
UPDATE: Here we go:
Less than a week after announcing the reforms that unleashed a political storm in Russia, Putin submitted the package of constitutional amendments to lawmakers.
The bill proposes changes that transfer some powers from the president to parliament and the State Council.
But according to the amendments submitted to parliament, the president also receives additional powers.
The overhaul would also transform the State Council from an advisory body to an institution -- potentially headed by Putin -- that would shape domestic and foreign policy as well as social and economic development, according to the amendments.
It will be formed by the president.
Putin will save being Postmaster General for the next sweeping revisions.
