Putin the puppet master?
Vladimir Putin's anointed successor says he wants Putin to serve as prime minister after his time as president is up. At least now there's no doubt "who really will be calling the shots," said the New York Post. Putin has to stay in power, said
What happened
A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would support his former chief of staff, Dmitri Medvedev, in Russia’s March presidential election, Medvedev returned the favor on Tuesday by saying he would ask Putin to serve as prime minister. (BusinessWeek.com)
What the commentators said
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At least now there’s not “any doubt about who really will be calling the shots in Russia,” said the New York Post in an editorial (free registration). But this is no surprise. Putin’s “anointed puppet” only confirmed what the world knew would happen when Putin—who’s barred by his country’s constitution from succeeding himself—said two months ago that he would be “willing” to serve as prime minister.
Putin has no intention of becoming “second banana” to his longtime ally, said Reuben F. Johnson in The Daily Standard. “Informed speculation” has it that the Russian parliament will soon begin “shifting powers and responsibilities” from Putin’s current job to his future one.
“Putin has little choice but to stay in power as long as he can,” said Anders Aslund in The Washington Post (free registration). He has been letting his “chums” take over one private company after another as Russia gets “more corrupt” by the day. “The fundamental dilemma for Russia, and Putin, is that a system so corrupt cannot be very stable.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Fallout: one of the 'most faithful – and best – video game adaptations'
The Week Recommends This 'genre-bending' new Amazon series is set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness where survivors shelter below ground
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Test of faith for Trump Media's investors'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will Iran attack hinder support for Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Pro-Kyiv allies cry 'hypocrisy' and 'double standards' even as the US readies new support package
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published