Ask a Russian

[red_elk]

Right, in this case parliament gets more influence and president a bit less.
The only thing which is a bit clearer now, is that Putin will likely leave presidency after 2024.
All other speculations about "iron grip" etc, are journalist's fantasies so far.
I mean it should be obvious for Australian press that Putin as evil bloody-handed dictator is only interested in maintaining his iron grip over Russia and nothing else, right?

 

[Yeekim]

Right, in this case parliament gets more influence and president a bit less.

Obviously a coincidence...

The only thing which is a bit clearer now, is that Putin will likely leave presidency after 2024.

In most regimes where heads of state serve for limited number of terms, this issue would be clear to begin with.

I mean it should be obvious for Australian press that Putin as evil bloody-handed dictator is only interested in maintaining his iron grip over Russia and nothing else, right?

Hyperboles aside, even for Australian press it is rather obvious, yes.
Anyway, the guy can't give up power, even if he wished. He has been squirrelling away too much wealth to be able to protect it otherwise.

 

[red_elk]

Obviously a coincidence...

I wonder what would you say if Putin proposed exact opposite change - to give president more power

He has been squirrelling away too much wealth to be able to protect it otherwise.

If he was squirrelling away tons of wealth (which neither of us has any idea about, btw), one would think that he needs this wealth for the time after his presidency. Because right now he has anything he needs and more.

Sounds like a deadlock - he can't retire because he needs to protect wealth stolen for his retirement

 

[Yeekim]

I wonder what would you say if Putin proposed exact opposite change - to give president more power

I would say he intends to keep the position.

 

[bernie14]

So has Putin said anything about wanting the prime minister position in 2024?

 

[red_elk]

He didn't specify much details of what he is going to do. My opinion is that he is going to (and should) retire, because he probably won't be able to do his job with the same efficiency as before. Russia needs power transitioning mechanism which will guarantee safety for former leaders and reduce risk of becoming gerontocracy again.

 

[Yeekim]

So has Putin said anything about wanting the prime minister position in 2024?

Maybe, but I expect there will be another specially designed position for him. Prime minister sounds too pedestrian.

 

[red_elk]

Racism in Russia vs USA.
Quite surprising video.
What they talk about Russia wasn't really news for me, I had similar impressions. But I learnt a couple new things about America.

 

[REDY]

I like picture of Prague in background

I do not know much about Russian and American racism. The thing here is that the black people here are still curiosity while in west there is history and experience. Like here gypsies, chechens in russia etc. Also we do now have experienced modern feminism so treatment of black woman is much better than of black man.

 

[bernie14]

Racism in Russia vs USA.
Quite surprising video.
What they talk about Russia wasn't really news for me, I had similar impressions. But I learnt a couple new facts about America.

If you knew the russian impressions but learned "new facts" about america, shouldn't you start an "ask an american" thread?

 

[red_elk]

I like picture of Prague in background

I do not know much about Russian and American racism. The thing here is that the black people here are still curiosity while in west there is history and experience. Like here gypsies, chechens in russia etc. Also we do now have experienced modern feminism so treatment of black woman is much better than of black man.

Right, we have xenophobia too. My former colleague was half Russian and half Kabardian and when he wanted to rent apartment in Moscow, he said Russians treated him with suspicion and he had to pay more. Many people here associate Caucasus inhabitants with crime and shady business. But back home Kabardians treated him as Russian and also didn't trust him as much as they trust their own people.

If you knew the russian impressions but learned "new facts" about america, shouldn't you start an "ask an american" thread?

Almost entire forum is "ask an American"
I'm not in position to start such a thread, I've never been in USA.

 

[innonimatu]

I think people should remind the situation when Putin took over. Russia had gone through a "time of troubles": loss of territory and influence, civil war, an incompetent leader taking power in a coup, collapse of the state bureaucracy and power grabs by oligarchs in the leader's court... Putin then was picked to take over as an "outsider", a supposed technocratic temporary stand-in. What are commentators saying about this new PM?

His goal then was to stop and then reverse the devastation wrought by Yeltsin. He succeeded way beyond what anyone expected. I guess that now his goal is to prevent the waste of all that effort, a new time of troubles starting. Perhaps he does want to find "another Putin" as in a outsider who was not full out to get power. Or has already found one.

Also, I think that people like him operate on a level where their corruption is rather irrelevant. The concern is one's work, the legacy in history. After more than 20 years he didn't play any short-term role, to retire into some pile of loot. I remember some of the silly smear attempts against Fidel Castro: "he had a fortune stashed away"... of course not, he was not playing that small-minded game.

Though seeing this only from afar (not a russian, can't be providing answers on this tread, only a comment), I don't see Putin simply retiring. But neither do I see him doing anything that might endanger the stability of his country, his legacy, once his term is over. My guess is that he will leave power, and this new PM may just turn out to become the next president. In a role less imperial, finally unmaking one of Yeltsin's remaining disastrous actions.

 

[FriendlyFire]

His goal then was to stop and then reverse the devastation wrought by Yeltsin. He succeeded way beyond what anyone expected. I guess that now his goal is to prevent the waste of all that effort, a new time of troubles starting. Perhaps he does want to find "another Putin" as in a outsider who was not full out to get power. Or has already found one.

Let me point out the kind of economic reforms that other successful post communist countries that have done well for themselves.
Russia seems kinda sad with around half the PPP of Poland
/shrugs it seems Ivans lot to have bad leaders, America on the other hand keep electing stupid leaders so I guess its not all bad.

 

[Zardnaar]

Russia's economy was the size of Italy's. Apparently it's now similar to Canada.

 

[Lohrenswald]

really didn't want to prefice this with that I want the russian users to answer this rather than hearing speculations by foreigners but I'm afraid I might have to

anyway:

Why did the government resign? Don't they still have majority in the legislative assembly?

 

[red_elk]

Let me point out the kind of economic reforms that other successful post communist countries that have done well for themselves.
Russia seems kinda sad with around half the PPP of Poland

I guess the fact that Russia now has the same PPP as Poland also puts it into the category of successful post communist countries

 

[Zardnaar]

I guess the fact that Russia now has the same PPP as Poland also puts it into the category of successful post communist countries

Average Russian wage is half of New Zealand pension. Minimum wage is almost quadruple.

Beers about 1/3rd the price though. 41 roubles to our dollar.

 

[red_elk]

Average Russian wage is half of New Zealand pension.

Internet price is 8 USD/month. 100Mb/s, traffic unlimited.
Subway or bus ticket 60 cents.

 

[Zardnaar]

Internet price is 8 USD/month. 100Mb/s, traffic unlimited.
Subway or bus ticket 60 cents.

Yeah hence why I want go there on holiday. Cheap 5 star resorts, cheap booze, cheap food etc.

Not gonna happen this year though.

 

[red_elk]

Why did the government resign? Don't they still have majority in the legislative assembly?

As far as I understand this was the president's decision. By constitution Russian president has rights to dismiss the government (and parliament) anyway.