After the election, Ukraine may find itself facing an escalation - and hundreds of thousands of extra invaders
Russian President Vladimir Putin is carefully preparing for his rigged election win Yet even if the stage-managed outcome is wholly predictable, that doesn’t mean the vote is meaningless. The elections potentially mark a new stage in his rule and could also end up having the opposite effect from that intended, undermining rather than bolstering the legitimacy of his regime.
Either way, Putin will still be in charge, with another six-year term added to the 24 years the 71-year-old has already been in direct or indirect power. While we should not expect dramatic changes, the elections, for all their stage-managed nature, may have policy implications. By law, the government resigns and the president appoints a new cabinet. This is likely to be much the same as the old one.
This would reflect a growing concern on Putin’s part about impatience and disaffection within the senior elites. Kirienko is not just managing the elections, he is also in charge of pacifying and integrating the occupied Ukrainian territories. A promotion would not only put Kirienko in line for the prime ministerial position but also signal increased determination to hold these possessions.would love to relinquish his position. If Putin does let him go, it would trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the military.