NEWSWATCH: “How long will Putin stay in power?” – Washington Post/Nelli Babayan

Putin Descending a Staircase

How long can Putin last? … former Swedish prime minister … Bildt gave him five to 10 years. Some Russian analysts predict the Putin regime will falter as early as mid-2016.

Putin will not remain in power indefinitely. But he won’t be out anytime soon.

* * *

Putin, with his KGB history, has a specific and rather homogenous entourage – Russia’s siloviki, who come into politics from long careers in the security and military services. The influence and the image of the siloviki even transformed the Kremlin’s political culture. … * * * Barring a palace coup or some other force majeure event, Putin is likely to be with us not only through the 2016 parliamentary elections, but also through the presidential elections in 2018 – and beyond.

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