Return to the Soviet

Vladimir Putin

President for life? It appears that the Russian people are voting to essentially give Vladimir Putin the chance to be just that. 

A Wall Street Journal Article titled, 

Russians Set to Approve Radical Overhaul That Could Keep Putin in Power Until 2036 details the vote and the probability that the change will be approved. 

The election move hearkens back to the days of the Soviet Union. The Russian people are voting to allow additional terms for their president which would give Putin the opportunity to hold the office until 2036. 

Putin Shirtless on Horse

The Soviet Union was effectively ruled by the General Secretary of the Communist Party. They continued in office until they were deposed, resigned, or died. We know some of the greats and infamous, for example Stalin, Brezhnev, Khrushchev, Gorbachev. 

Putin was elected to the first of his four terms during 2000. With the exception of four years between 2008 and 2012 when he served as Prime Minister, he has been Russia's president since 1999 when we was appointed as acting president. He was reelected in 2008 for his third term. His time as president may rival Stalin's 30 years and 7 months of leadership. If Putin is reelected for the additional terms he might possibly be President for 33 years. 

I am not sure that the world needs that much Vladimir Putin. 

I am very thankful that our Constitution has clear term limits for the president.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD