Putin seeks new term as Russia president in March vote

He might as well as just declare himself President for Life.

Burning BushToday 07:14 am JST enjoys approval ratings of some 80 percent.

Not bad.

Kim Jong In has him beat at 100%. lol

Putin and election in the same sentence was a joke right?

The only difference between Soviet Russia and today is the wealthy few get to flaunt their wealth openly.

Meanwhile the average Middle Class Household Income is less than $300/month.

Surprise surprise, he’s running for president. What an absolute joke. One can only wonder at the extent of his and his mates’ plunder of the nation’s treasure

move that would make him the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin.

A man he emulates. The difference seems to be Putin's somewhat better at hiding bodies. There are no reports yet that he's had millions of his own people murdered. Russians and those in nearby states must hope he doesn't want to compete with Stalin in this regard.

With the election virtually devoid of any suspence (sic)

Not surprising when opposing Putin and his oligarchs puts lives at risk. Trumpbannon dream of a Putin, Erdogan, Kim form of control.

move that would make him the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin.

A man he emulates.

That is so much crap. Only a NATO hegemonic globalist would say something like that, or, you're reading too much Yahoo news.

Putin seeks new term as Russia president in March vote

surprise surprise.

@fizzb only a NATO hegemonic globalist would say something like that

Actually I'm just a guy with zero power. 'Hegmonic globalists' to me are people like Trump and Putin (look where all in the world they're both trying to take greater control - pretty much every continent), plus some heads of international corporations, especially those involved in resource extraction and defense industries.

you're reading too much Yahoo news.

I actually do read Yahoo news, plus an array of other sources, even Russia Today and Fox 'news'. Could you recommend which other ones I should also read?

Czar?

Wait, is he allowed to be President of Russia when he's already President of the USA?

Only hope for humanity is Russia and China.

What a farce. The original fake democracy, the Putinocracy.

Will the Don change the constitution or is it back to another farcical stint as PM in 6 years ?

Keep an eye out for more opposition leaders being jailed and outspoken journalists being murdered.

Russia deserves Putin.

Historically Russia has not been a system of laws but a system of men - what happens when "the man" is no longer there

(A system of laws would stand the test of time no matter who the current "the man" is)

Putin is already foregone to be re-elected - why keep preventing opposing leaders off the ballot

A key to maturing democracy is a strong opposition

Speculation has swirled over the past weeks that the Kremlin may be considering whether to change the constitution or create a brand new post for Putin in an effort to extend his grip on power.

Abe maria

Interesting to note that all usually russophobic posters here are very anti-Putin. Why? All their blah-blah about democracy is pure propaganda noise, the West is very cozy with such "demorcratic" scum as Saudi despots, Kosovan "narcostatesmen", Syrian terrorebels, Ukrainian neonazis etc. Why picking only on Putin? Compare pre-Putin Russia of 90s - politically, economically and militarily weak, with present day Russia - politically independent, with economy capable of just ignoring Western sanctions and with military capable of turning the tide of the war in Syria. Russsia is powerful again, that's the real reason why Russians support Putin and russophobic globalists hysterically against him.

Go, Vlad, go! Good luck!

As I keep saying, Greed can be for either wealth and or power.... Putin has a hard time letting go of power because he's consumed by controlling others. I can respect Gorbachev and Yeltsin, they could let it go.... something is very wrong with Putin. The same mindset, over and over again get's stuck in it's ways. New mindsets encourage innovation and new thinking to improve things.

Corruption is the name of the game with Putin. And corruption eventually leads to destruction.

Compare pre-Putin Russia of 90s - politically, economically and militarily weak, with present day Russia - politically independent, with economy capable of just ignoring Western sanctions and with military capable of turning the tide of the war in Syria.

What happens when he leaves?

That's the scary unknown in a system of men - they don't build a solid foundation that can support anybody else

That's the scary unknown in a system of men - they don't build a solid foundation that can support anybody else

Can't agree with you. In Soviet times the power came from Khruschov to Brezhnev, from Brezhnev to Andropov, then to Chernenko and Gorbachev without any serious disturbances and damage to the whole political system. The real trouble began only when Eltsyn took helm.

What happens when he leaves?

I think nothing disastrous. Russians will choose their next president, that's all. Pitin is too clever to make his presidency lifelong, he will never make himself a copy of Kim.