Putin to step down next year, citing health concerns

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1324529633035997186

[PSOL]

The next successor of Putin is going to have a hell of a time consolidating power. Should be exciting to watch.

[Red Velvet]

Wait, what? 2020 has been quite a ride.

[NewYorkExpress]

Take what the New York Post says with a grain of salt...

But if true, this is big, not just for Russian politics, but for American politics too. Another door closing for Trump when he officially loses.

I don't think Putin's successor will want to take his baggage on, whereas Putin might have at least entertained the idea of offering Trump asylum.

[Kingpoleon]

Await confirmation. This is not an outlet you’d expect to see with such a story, especially since they have very few foreign correspondents compared to many other outlets.

[Frodo]

Here is a more reliable indicator suggesting that Putin may be preparing to leave office:

Vladimir Putin to get protection from prosecution for life

President Putin is expected to gain lifelong immunity from prosecution for any alleged crimes committed before, during and after his time in office under a proposed law to be discussed by Russia’s rubber-stamp parliament.

The move is being seen as a Kremlin plan to ensure his personal safety in the event that he eventually relinquishes power. This week Mr. Putin, 68, began steps to push through legislation that would allow him to become a senator for life when or if he steps down as president. Recent amendments to the constitution mean that Mr. Putin, who will celebrate 21 years in power on New Year’s Eve, can remain in the Kremlin as the Russian leader until 2036, when he will be 83.

And this is why Trump and his brownshirts want to turn the United States into Russia.  No accountability....      

[Saruku]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

[Green Line]

That would be a shame.  Once you detoxify your mind of WaPo/NYT propaganda, which took me a while admittedly, things begin to look a lot different.

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Putin is depressed now that he has lost his puppet Trump.

Is Medvedev a possible contender for President? He does seem more of a reformer and pro west than Putin at least.

[jaymichaud]

Lmao nahhhhhh I’ll believe it when I see it and not a minute before

[Samof94]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

I can picture someone like Dugin or Zhirinovsky in charge in a worst case scenario where they are basically  fascist-life. The latter wants to deports all the Ukrainians to Siberia after annexing it.

[CumbrianLefty]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

I can picture someone like Dugin or Zhirinovsky in charge in a worst case scenario where they are basically  fascist-life. The latter wants to deports all the Ukrainians to Siberia after annexing it.

Zhirinovsky has said all sorts of things.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

I can picture someone like Dugin or Zhirinovsky in charge in a worst case scenario where they are basically  fascist-life. The latter wants to deports all the Ukrainians to Siberia after annexing it.

I thought Siberia was already part of Russia. 

[Samof94]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

I can picture someone like Dugin or Zhirinovsky in charge in a worst case scenario where they are basically  fascist-life. The latter wants to deports all the Ukrainians to Siberia after annexing it.

I thought Siberia was already part of Russia. 

I meant annexing Ukraine as a country and sending them to Siberia to repopulate with Russians with Lebensraum.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Here is a more reliable indicator suggesting that Putin may be preparing to leave office:

Vladimir Putin to get protection from prosecution for life

President Putin is expected to gain lifelong immunity from prosecution for any alleged crimes committed before, during and after his time in office under a proposed law to be discussed by Russia’s rubber-stamp parliament.

The move is being seen as a Kremlin plan to ensure his personal safety in the event that he eventually relinquishes power. This week Mr. Putin, 68, began steps to push through legislation that would allow him to become a senator for life when or if he steps down as president. Recent amendments to the constitution mean that Mr. Putin, who will celebrate 21 years in power on New Year’s Eve, can remain in the Kremlin as the Russian leader until 2036, when he will be 83.

And this is why Trump and his brownshirts want to turn the United States into Russia.  No accountability....      

Shut up.

[Bootes Void]

for real? seems unlikely

[Astatine]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

I can picture someone like Dugin or Zhirinovsky in charge in a worst case scenario where they are basically  fascist-life. The latter wants to deports all the Ukrainians to Siberia after annexing it.

Zhirinovsky will never be elected to any higher position besides his parliamentary seat. Never.

Anyways, I remain skeptical of this report unless there are other news outlets confirming the same rumors. It does not seem logical why he would amend the Constitution so he could serve 2 additional terms... But then resigns 2 years before the next election.

[Sir Mohamed]

Not happening. I think it's a test to see who's loyal. I know Stalin in private mulled retirement to see how Politburo members would react. If someone didn't come out strongly against it, there was trouble ahead.

[Samof94]

Liberal Cold Warriors (most of whom will stop being obsessed with Russia once Biden takes office, but I digress) shouldn't declare victory prematurely. They'll probably like his eventual successor even less. Putin is basically a moderate by Russian standards.

I can picture someone like Dugin or Zhirinovsky in charge in a worst case scenario where they are basically  fascist-life. The latter wants to deports all the Ukrainians to Siberia after annexing it.

Zhirinovsky will never be elected to any higher position besides his parliamentary seat. Never.

Anyways, I remain skeptical of this report unless there are other news outlets confirming the same rumors. It does not seem logical why he would amend the Constitution so he could serve 2 additional terms... But then resigns 2 years before the next election.

Obviously. He’s too dangerous for Putin to trust with real power. Wouldn’t be surprised if he died before the end of the decade and he is replaced by some ex military official who has a worse version of Putin’s beliefs but zero charisma.