Russian Presidential Election 2012 : Will Vladimir Putin Cling on to Power?

Since Vladimir Putin came to power twelve years ago, Russia has been going through major political transformation and bit by bit its democracy has been fading away. If there were any doubts as to Putin’s intentions, they disappeared after he essentially made himself a prime minister by making a deal with current president Dmitry Medvedev.  

Now they openly mock the Russian people by intending to switch roles again after presidential election this coming Sunday, only this time the people are not buying in, which was clearly shown by demonstrations after last parliamentary elections, which opposition maintains, were rigged.

Despite the fact that international community and media accepted that they will have to deal with Putin for the next twelve years, the Russian people are determined not to allow this to happen and if they see that this Sunday’s election results were tempered with again, the new wave of more vigorous protests are bound to throw Russia into real internal upheaval.

However, it is not only the young and educated people that Putin should not take lightly in his desperate push to gain back absolute power in his country, but also the man whom the world and possibly he himself, thinks of as his loyal puppet. Medvedev is not going to meekly accept it, if he is not going to get agreed upon share of power from Putin.

If Putin then tries to limit the power of prime minister’s office  after he gets “re-elected” as president again, Medvedev might turn against him and join the people, which could force Putin to either resign or be forced out of office. Future will show how it will all play out, but this time the takeover of power will not be as easy as everyone thinks.

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