Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (1952-), former President of Russia
Today closes the eight-year Putin period in the history of Russia. How Vladimir Putin used his two presidential mandates makes a topic for long, in-depth discussion, but, to make this long story short, one can simply repeat what the former Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schröder, said. Herr Schröder said that Russia had, under Vladimir Putin, turned into a more democratic and more successful country. It emerged as a new factor of global stability, Herr Schröder said.
Let me point out that Herr Schröder’s point of view is shared by enemies of Russia, as well as prominent public servants and foreign policy-makers. But, the most important thing is this: the highest view of Putin’s performance in office is voiced by the people of Russia. Opinion polls show that almost eighty percent of Russians supported his line, and it is neither promises nor beautifully phrased declarations that can explain his popular support. For the past eight years, Russia has been growing faster than most other nations. Its GDP growth topped seven percent, which earned it the seventh position on the list of ten most-developed nations. It was in the years of the Putin Administration that a foundation was laid for the ambitious decision to turn Russia into the fifth-biggest economy of this planet by 2020.
Yet, I see the imprint of those most impressive macroeconomic indices on the lives of the rank-and-file Russians as the biggest result of the eight past years. Last year alone, people’s earnings grew twenty to twenty five percent, and the volume of housing construction increased by one-third. One thing the government proved unable to do is to curb inflation, which remains much too high. Economic indices and things other than economic indices serve to measure the positive results of Mr Putin’s performance in office. Vladimir Putin managed to unify Russia and returned to Russians a belief in their potential and ability to settle domestic and international problems. The Russia of the Putin period never hesitated to protect its interests in relations with the United States of America. It managed to map out moves to consolidate its position on the post-Soviet territory. It expanded contacts with China, India, and other countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
What seems very good is Mr Putin’s ability not to feel euphoric. Think on this: he added a call for continued action to the words of gratitude with which he addressed his own team and the outgoing Cabinet of ministers. In my view, his line will continue uninterrupted because he is expected to head the national Cabinet under President Medvedev. So, let us add our voices to the chorus of those who thanked him for eight years of painstaking effort and we wish him every success in what he is going to do in his new capacity of prime minister.
6 May 2008
Viktor Yenikeyev
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=26666&cid=56&p=06.05.2008 (in English)
Voice of Russia World Service
