How Putin Played Russia

Four years ago, before Putin relinquished his vast presidential powers at the end of his term limit, he built up United Russia, together with his image of a bare-chested, horse-riding, gun-toting man of action. He needed to weaken the presidency to shore up his personal power. Pro-Kremlin officials even fanned rumors at the time of a switch from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government to guarantee that Medvedev, Putin’s designated placeholder, would never threaten Putin’s status as “national leader.” If needed, Putin could have used his position as majority leader to order the president impeached. Now that he is set to regain the president’s powers, Putin is interested in the opposite: undercutting the party and future prime minister. It’s no coincidence that United Russia’s boss is not even a member.