Putin's long reign: Seeking a successor amid lifetime leadership speculation
Vladimir Putin remains the president of Russia for another term, and it seems likely he will hold the position until his death. The politician and many of his closest collaborators are already in their seventies. Consequently, the search for his successor has started. Who could replace Putin?
Vladimir Putin has continued in his role as president. The outcome of the Russian presidential elections was anticipated well before the polling day. Professor Włodzimierz Marciniak, a political scientist, expert on Soviet studies, diplomat, and former Polish ambassador to Russia, suggested in a discussion with Business Insider Poland that we should brace ourselves for Putin's rule in Russia for possibly the next 12 years.
Professor Marciniak pointed out that Putin is unlikely to relinquish power, viewing it as intertwined with his existence. "Putin's hold on power is for life, and I can't see him stepping aside politically: either by giving up his role or losing it in elections," he remarked. He mentioned that in Russia, "there’s no established protocol for handing over power," and that "the notion of lifelong leadership predominates".
The expert theorizes that Putin might name his successor himself. It’s possible that the chosen one could be from his own family. Professor Marciniak noted that there have been speculations in Moscow that "one of Putin’s daughters might be getting groomed to be his successor".
In Russia, patriarchy is thought to be the norm. Yet, it is predominantly women who navigate the challenges of daily life. Thus, Marciniak posits, the responsibility of governing Russia could fall onto the shoulders of one of Putin’s daughters.
"Putin has acquired a taste for a war of attrition"
Professor Marciniak remarked that Putin has bounced back from the setback of the botched rapid attempt to seize Kyiv. According to the former ambassador, it appears that "Putin has acquired a taste for a war of attrition". This mindset, he observed, seems to energize Putin once more.
Furthermore, the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations have not led to significant unrest within the country, leading Marciniak to conclude that this conflict could persist for an extended period.
