The imminent return of President Putin: What will it mean for Russia?

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win his country's presidential election on Sunday, reclaiming the job he held for eight years before term limits forced him to step aside — at which point he became P.M. Despite massive anti-corruption protests, polls show that Putin still has the backing of 60 percent of his constituents, suggesting that he could win a majority in the first round and avoid a run-off. What can we expect from another Putin term? Here, four predictions:

1. The protests will grow

This election's outcome isn't in doubt because it's all been "choreographed" for years, say David J. Kramer and Christopher Walker at Foreign Policy. Still, unrest is growing. Putin's most serious liberal challenger, Grigory Yavlinsky, was disqualified from the race in January in a politically motivated scheme, and Putin's United Russia party was charged with vote-rigging in December's parliamentary elections. The result? Putin has been increasingly vilified in public — once unthinkable. And since Putin has yet to offer any real promise of the reforms the Russian people seek, the protests he's faced so far are nothing compared to what's to come when he assumes the presidency.

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2. And Russia could face an outright revolt

Putin's "KGB officer instincts" will likely motivate him to tighten his grip on Russia, says Ariel Cohen in The Christian Science Monitor. That would be a grave mistake. Russia's problems — economic and political — have grown so urgent that Putin can no longer distract critics with repression and pride-boosting tweaking of the U.S. over Iran and Syria. If Putin fails to focus on crafting real reform and making Russia more attractive to foreign investment, the country faces stagnation unseen since the Soviet era. At worst, "it could blow up in a bloody revolt."

3. Putin will try hard to placate protesters

The "mink coat revolutionaries" in Moscow aren't Putin's biggest problem, says Neil Buckley at Financial Times. He'll probably satisfy them by allowing "limited political liberalization designed to take the heat out of the urban protests." The bigger challenge will be keeping poorer, provincial Russians happy, which Putin will attempt through "populist spending increases," such as boosting pensions and teachers' pay. If that fails, and Putin's rural base joins the reform-minded urban middle class, Putin may face a "perfect storm" of protest.

4. Whatever happens, this is the beginning of the end for Putin

Twelve years ago, Putin took power after the uncertain era following the Soviet Union's collapse, and "many Russians were grateful for the stability and prosperity he brought with him," says The Economist. But times have changed, and Putin has outlived his usefulness. What happens next is up to Putin: "He can respond to the pressure for change by trying to repress it," magnifying opposition to his rule. Or he can accept the inevitable and serve just one six-year term. Either way, "the beginning of the end of [Putin's] reign has begun."