Russian presidential term extension signals Putin’s return to power Commentary
Russian presidential term extension signals Putin’s return to power
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Ariel Cohen [Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation]: "The Russian Constitution proclaims a presidential republic within a multi-party system, with president as a "guarantor" of the Constituion. However, checks and balances in Russia were underdeveloped since the collapse of communism in 1991 (and non-existent under communism).

Moreover, since 2000, Russia further suffered from a serious deterioration of those political institutions, such as the Duma and the Supreme Court, which had a potential to balance the executive branch of power. Furthermore, the mass media has increasingly come under state's control, with the government now effectivelly controlling all TV channels and most of central newspapers.

Political parties were defanged and brought under the Kremlin's control, with the current 7 percent electoral barrier ensuring that since 2003 only the parties that are given a green light by the Kremlin get elected to the Duma.

Governors and senators are appointed by the executive branch. Russia is suffering, in the words of one democratic party leader, from a "mock-political" system, where institutions exist but not playing a role they supposed to in a regular democratic system.

Extention of the Russian Constitution as suggested by President Dmitry Medvedev as immediately confirmed by the Duma most probably is aimed at returning Prime Minister Vladimir Putin into the presidential chair. If this happens, Putin would be in control of the country for up to 24 years: Two terms of four years (2000-2007); a Medvedev interregnum under the Putin control (2008-2012), and potentially two terms (2012-2024).

Even if Putin does not come back, Medvedev's potential prolonged rule, given his appointment as heir apparent and "stage-managed" elections, raise serious questions about Russia's democratic nature. Putin has hinted that the next presidential elections may be early, and Medvedev evaded the answer as to whether he fills the full term.

All this indicates that amidst the global economic crisis the democracy deficit in Russia is making the regime more insecure; and that the current rulers will not consider a peaceful power transition through election, thus closing the door on peaceful transformation."

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