[Skybird]

Can you imagine him to survive for long after he has given up the powers he has as president? He must have made himself a hilarious ammount of enemies amongst economic tycoons, oligarchs, mafiosi, and fat cats embedded in the government-bureaucracy's internal "nest structure". He can live probably only as long as he stays strong and in control. No way out, no way back.

Also, he is kind of possessed, he is a driven one. I think many people in the West misunderstand how much he really believes in what he is doing and in the Russia he has formed and created. He is an offender by conviction. His passion is ice-coldly executed and carried out - but a passion it is.

Or in brief: he has no other choice than to continue.

And why not? Even if his scores with the Russian people currently are fluctuating, most Russians still support him and will not resist to these changes now. He changes the rules, he is authoritarian, and Russians by huge majority will tolerate both. So why should he stop?

You could as well ask why Trump should candidate for a second term. Why should he not...? Dispite all what speaks against him, many Americans still loyally stand behind him and forgive him his lies, his failures, his duds, his incompetence and verbal excesses and impossible behaviour. They are willing to let him get away.


It could be that Putin overstays his time and misses the right time when his populaerity falls below what can ,maintain his stay in power. Many powerpoliticians miss the right time to step back. But this time is not yet here for Putin, I think.