Putin still has wide support as he turns 60
Source: Agencies |
October 7, 2012, Sunday
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RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin turns 60 today, his grip on power weaker than in the past but under little immediate threat if oil prices stay high.
Adoring supporters will celebrate in cities from Siberia to Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, where the ruling party's loyal Young Guard will unfurl a banner on a bridge which they say symbolizes Putin's role by uniting Asia and Europe.
Opponents will make their feelings known much closer to home, protesting near Moscow's Red Square under the banner: "We're sending the old man into retirement."
Organizers plan to send their own symbolic message by asking protesters to bring gifts suitable for a pensioner - anything, perhaps, from reading glasses to a pipe.
The man himself will be relaxing with his close family and plans no special celebrations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Just a few months into a third term as president, he may be reaching retirement age, but has no plans to retire.
After 12 years as Russia's paramount leader, opinion polls show Putin has higher ratings than most Western politicians, but they are down from their peak during the oil-fueled economic boom of his first presidency from 2000 until 2008.
In August the independent Levada polling group said 48 percent of Russians had a positive view of him compared to 60 percent in May, when he began a new six-year term.
"Age doesn't matter in what Vladimir Putin does or does not do," said Konstantin von Eggert, a political commentator.
"His vision is rather pragmatic and reduces a person to two functions - he can either be a friend or a foe."
Adoring supporters will celebrate in cities from Siberia to Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, where the ruling party's loyal Young Guard will unfurl a banner on a bridge which they say symbolizes Putin's role by uniting Asia and Europe.
Opponents will make their feelings known much closer to home, protesting near Moscow's Red Square under the banner: "We're sending the old man into retirement."
Organizers plan to send their own symbolic message by asking protesters to bring gifts suitable for a pensioner - anything, perhaps, from reading glasses to a pipe.
The man himself will be relaxing with his close family and plans no special celebrations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Just a few months into a third term as president, he may be reaching retirement age, but has no plans to retire.
After 12 years as Russia's paramount leader, opinion polls show Putin has higher ratings than most Western politicians, but they are down from their peak during the oil-fueled economic boom of his first presidency from 2000 until 2008.
In August the independent Levada polling group said 48 percent of Russians had a positive view of him compared to 60 percent in May, when he began a new six-year term.
"Age doesn't matter in what Vladimir Putin does or does not do," said Konstantin von Eggert, a political commentator.
"His vision is rather pragmatic and reduces a person to two functions - he can either be a friend or a foe."
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