The Putin Century

Many have feared this for some time, but now it’s official – Vladimir Putin plans on continuing to be in power for a very, very long time.  What’s funny is that it’s probably not even by choice or preference, but a function of the kind of arbitrary institution-less state he has helped build.

From the Financial Times:

Dismissing suggestions that there might be a contest over the presidency, Mr Putin said: “There was no competition between us in 2007 and we won’t have any in 2012.”

Smilingly confidently, Mr Putin added that he and Mr Medvedev would take account of “the realities of 2012”, their personal plans, and the views of United Russia, the dominant, pro-Kremlin political party.

I guess we should have known this from the last series of topless photos…