Sunday, December 18, 2011

Russia's Putin Is Not A Shoe-In For President

Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for almost 12 years as either president or prime minister, is confronted by the biggest challenge to his authority yet Photo: Getty Images

Vladimir Putin 'Would Lose Honest Presidential Election', Says Former Russian PM -- The Telegraph

Vladimir Putin has been rattled by recent protests against his rule and would lose an honest presidential election if he had the guts to allow one, a former Russian prime minister has claimed.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mikhail Kasyanov, who served as prime minister under Mr Putin from 2000-2004, alleged that Mr Putin was running scared.

“He is angry and frightened and has lost his self-control,” said Mr Kasyanov, who tried to run against Mr Putin for the presidency in 2008, only to be disqualified on what he said was a trumped-up technicality.

“Putin understands that social pressure on him is growing all the time. He is nervous.”

Read more ....

My Comment: I still believe that Putin will win the next election .... but barely. He has the support among the seniors, the military, government bureaucrats, etc.. But it is also true that he is losing support, and with many now openly questioning on why their lives have not appreciably improved in the past few years .... he is on the hot seat in trying to justify why he should return to the Presidency.

No comments: