Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Well I never saw that coming! :dunce:

What was that phrase again.... "Duck and Cover" ?

I wonder how much extra the Ukraine will have to pay for it's gas next winter? Or will they get any at all?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17252190

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Amazing how fast it was announced for a country spanning nine time zones. Wasn't much doubt about it and the fact demonstrations were pre planned also says this was a foregone conclusion. Lets just hope the demonstrations don't end up getting bloody.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Lets hope he less keen on having a go at the west and have closer relations, up to a point were it can join NATO and the EU!

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:16 ----------

He never left, he was just called "Prime Minster"

In fact he was the real "President"

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

I believe his style of Government is Authoritarian Democracy....

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Commentators on BBC's Today program don't think he'll last the full 6 year term.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

He'll probably declare himself Tzar and disolve the democratic process altogether.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Yes that just the type of thing Putin would do.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

"I believe his style of Government is Authoritarian Democracy" I think it's more "i am running so i win regardless of what the votes say" he is a man with little interest in true democracy and pays only as much service to it as he needs too to avoid being seen for what he is. Given the resources russia has the standard of life is still poor and progress is at a much more reduced pace then it could be he likes it that way and will do whatever he has to to keep it that way.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Have you seen the name of the polling monitor head honcho?!
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tiny-ko...191959454.html:D:D:D
Childish i know!:D

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

offtopic but Arsenals second largest shareholder Usmanov is now the richest man in Russia... ontopic hes a Putin supporter.. as you would have to be to earn so much money.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

Gah. Wish he would bugger off.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

That is correct, in theory it a democracy, in practise it is not the case, but it not a dictatorship either, but somewere in the middle!

---------- Post added at 10:11 ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 ----------

Another reason Putin is in power is that he is the most popular politician in Russia and there is no real alternative to him and his party (further helped by the fact he kicked them out of Russia!)

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

He has been running a propaganda campaign for years now, and denying any opposition any output into the media. All orchestrated to make sure he was the ONLY politician with any voice or presence, so the de facto President-in-waiting. Why else would he have personally rigged the law to allow a further presidential reign for himself?

You could almost see the strings on his puppet president.

Re: Putin elected President of Russia for a third term
 

He never left the job of President of Russia, he just pretended to be Prime Minister of Russia!

He and his allies control media and business as well (along with the government itself)

Russia a state dominated by Putin and his party (United Russia)