Salon: Vlad the terrible (Putin = Mussolini of Moscow)

[kskiska]

Two years ago Russia's Vladimir Putin was a celebrated champion of democracy. Now he's being called "the Mussolini of Moscow."

It's only 10 years old, but the Dec. 12 holiday has become one of Russia's most important. Introduced by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin 10 years ago, the day commemorates the ratification of the Russian constitution. In other words, it was on that day in 1994 that the Soviet Union was buried for good.

Or was it?

Ten days ago, 143 million Russian citizens celebrated the constitution holiday for the very last time. The celebration has been canceled, eliminated, relegated to the dustbin of Russia's short post-Soviet history. Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted it so.

The choreography, however, continued. On exactly the same day, Putin signed into law a bill that critics view as a massive assault on the spirit of the 10-year-old constitution. Putin now has the power to directly appoint the presidents and governors of Russia's 88 provinces and republics -- his reach, despite ruling out such a law as recently as two years ago, now extends into the highest political offices in the most far-flung corners of his land.

(snip)

The powers of a king ... or dictator
The powers granted Putin under the new laws are immense. Imagine if George Bush could suddenly fire the governor of New York and dissolve the state legislature. Or that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder suddenly had the power to order the removal of the prime minister of Bavaria and to dissolve the Bavarian state assembly, even in the face of its triple veto. Until now, the popular election of governors has stood for the idea of the decentralized state and a departure from a Soviet-style concentration of power. That power is now concentrated once again.

more…
http://salon.com/news/feature/2004/12/23/putin/index.html

[burythehatchet]

1. You see, the precedent has been set

any dictator can now incite conflict as a pretense for domination. All they have to do is label the opposition as terrorists.

[ScrewyRabbit]

2. Bush said he looked into Putin's soul and saw someone he

could trust. Now it's all beginning to make sense.

[FDRLincoln]

3. last remnant

The Imperial Senate will no longer be of concern to us. I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnant of the Old Republic has been swept away.

Regional governors now have DIRECT control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line.