Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: mosgood on February 23, 2005, 11:37:47 AM
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I don't think this is the case, but I thought I would ask if there is a restriction on the length of time Putin can be in office, as it is in the U.S.
I know that this sounds very ignorant, but that's just because it is.... I'm really not familiar with Russian politics or government at all.
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legit question, why would you think yourself ignorant for not knowing that answer, I don't know it either...
they have a new system in place...
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Originally posted by SLO
legit question, why would you think yourself ignorant for not knowing that answer, I don't know it either...
they have a new system in place...
I am ignorant of the answer... ;)
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Originally posted by mosgood
I don't think this is the case, but I thought I would ask if there is a restriction on the length of time Putin can be in office, as it is in the U.S.
No, there is no restriction. And what about US rules?
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Originally posted by Estel
No, there is no restriction. And what about US rules?
The president is limited to 2 terms by an amendment to the constitution (amendment 22, iirc). This formalized a tradition that dated back to the founding of our country, a tradition that was only violated by one President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
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Well, he cant live forever.
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He is fit and not a drunk so he can stay for a long time if he gets elected every time.
Im not sure what I think about him.
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Violate is a too strong a word imho...
After FDR died a law was passed enforcing the two 4 year term limit, I think the only president not affected by this law was Truman and he is the only president mentioned in the age old document.
Originally posted by rshubert
a tradition that was only violated by one President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
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Originally posted by Estel
No, there is no restriction. And what about US rules?
You are mistaken. Two terms of four years each if one after another. After someone spends another term in the office in 2008-12 he can be elected again.
There is a serious rumour that the constitution will be changed towards "parliament republic", so Putin can be a prime-minister witout any restrictions, and a president will be a figure for parades like in Germany.
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As Boroda said, President Putin is currently only allowed two terms in office.
As an interesting aside, I was here (St. Petersburg, Russia) for New Years, and right before midnight, President Putin addressed Russia on television screens throughout St Petersburg (and, as I assume, the rest of Russia). The thing I found most interesting (as an American) was that everyone in the crowd was actually paying attention to what he was saying; as well as cheering.
Oh, and Russian politics are VERY interesting (if you're into that kind of thing).
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There is a serious rumour that the constitution will be changed towards "parliament republic", so Putin can be a prime-minister witout any restrictions, and a president will be a figure for parades like in Germany.
Doesn't that make you nervous? The man is trying to change the constitution so he can keep the power longer than he is supposed to, just doesn't sound right to me.
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Originally posted by Boroda
You are mistaken. Two terms of four years each if one after another. After someone spends another term in the office in 2008-12 he can be elected again.
There is a serious rumour that the constitution will be changed towards "parliament republic", so Putin can be a prime-minister witout any restrictions, and a president will be a figure for parades like in Germany.
(In best Gomer Pyle Voice)
Well Gaualee!
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Originally posted by emodin
As Boroda said, President Putin is currently only allowed two terms in office.
As an interesting aside, I was here (St. Petersburg, Russia) for New Years, and right before midnight, President Putin addressed Russia on television screens throughout St Petersburg (and, as I assume, the rest of Russia). The thing I found most interesting (as an American) was that everyone in the crowd was actually paying attention to what he was saying; as well as cheering.
Oh, and Russian politics are VERY interesting (if you're into that kind of thing).
EMODIN, how was the trip and stay for you in Piter ?
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Originally posted by parker00
Doesn't that make you nervous?
It does.
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Originally posted by parker00
Doesn't that make you nervous? The man is trying to change the constitution so he can keep the power longer than he is supposed to, just doesn't sound right to me.
Parliamentary republic (in its basic form) was an ancient Russian tradition crushed with military force in the XVI-th century by czar Ivan IV Grozniy (Thunderous) who is still called in the Western countries "the Terrible".
Will Putin become a prime-minister ? Maybe or maybe not.
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http://www.fipc.ru/fipc/constit/
http://www.fipc.ru/fipc/constit/ch4.html
Article 81.
1. The President of the Russian Federation shall be elected for a term of four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of general, equal and direct vote by secret ballot.
2. A citizen of the Russian Federation not younger than 35, who has resided in the Russian Federation for not less than 10 years, may be elected President of the Russian Federation.
3. No one person shall hold the office of President of the Russian Federation for more than two terms in succession.
4. The procedure for electing the President of the Russian Federation shall be determined by federal law.
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I'm here in the US for more than a decade and still have no right to be elected even the Governor
of New York.
:confused:
So I say that the Russia in this regard is more 'democratic' than the USA. :aok :rofl
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Originally posted by Boroda
You are mistaken. Two terms of four years each if one after another. After someone spends another term in the office in 2008-12 he can be elected again.
There is a serious rumour that the constitution will be changed towards "parliament republic", so Putin can be a prime-minister witout any restrictions, and a president will be a figure for parades like in Germany.
Not mistaken. I misunderstood the whole question. I thinked the question is about work day.
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Originally posted by genozaur
EMODIN, how was the trip and stay for you in Piter ?
Absolutely wonderfull. I flew back into the US yesterday after living there for 4 months.
As for Russian "democracy," well, there are a lot of things that go on in Russia today that I would say are anti-democratic, and they appear to be getting worse.
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Originally posted by emodin
As for Russian "democracy," well, there are a lot of things that go on in Russia today that I would say are anti-democratic, and they appear to be getting worse.
I don't care about "democracy", I worry about other things.
The problems we, Russians, see, are quite different from the views of Western people, including some imaginary features of political system that never works.
It's interesting for me, what did you find so annoying in SPb? "anti-democratic, and they appear to be getting worse"? Can you please elaborate? I always like to see how our country, and especially the city where I was born (I still think that it's probably the best city in the world, with beautiful intelligent and polite people) looks for a foreigner. Please, do me a favour!
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Originally posted by Boroda
I don't care about "democracy", I worry about other things.
The problems we, Russians, see, are quite different from the views of Western people, including some imaginary features of political system that never works.
It's interesting for me, what did you find so annoying in SPb? "anti-democratic, and they appear to be getting worse"? Can you please elaborate? I always like to see how our country, and especially the city where I was born (I still think that it's probably the best city in the world, with beautiful intelligent and polite people) looks for a foreigner. Please, do me a favour!
Errr...I never said I found anything annoying about (or in) StPb. In fact, I said, and still think, that St. Petersburg is a wonderfull city, both for the people who live there and the city itself. Furthermore, I am hoping to return to Russia, specifically Moscow, in the near future to teach English for 2 years. The only reason I want to go to Moscow instead of St. Petersburg is because I want to see more of Russia. I would be extremely happy if Russia prospered and became a stronger country.
As for my views on the government, I would say that the ability for the Ruissian federal government to basically choose who will be governor of a particular oblast (province) is a move that limits the right of the citizens of the oblasts to choose their particular governor, and I consider that anti-democratic (since they used to be able to vote for their governors). I have noticed over the years a distinct move away from what I would call a multi-party system into a one-party system. Unity controls basically all of the Duma, and now Unity (and whichever party the next President creates) will also control who becomes governer. And yes, I have heard and read the arguments put forth by President Putin about how this is supposed to help combat terrorism, but I don't personally agree with those arguements. IMO, giving overriding power to one authority (be it a party or an individual), can lead to serious problems.
I also feel that in order to have a democracy that is capable of functioning properly, you have to have strong, and independent news organizations that provide factually accurate and fair information to the public. I would say that what I have seen of the media in the last few years, there is much less 'freedom of the press' in Russia than there was 10 years ago. It's hard to have a democracy when all of the news organizations focus on positive election coverage of only one candadite, and tend to ignore the rest. I am talking specifically of the 1996 Presidential elections.
As to 'an imaginary political system that never works,' I'm going to have to disagree with you if you are talking about democracy in general. IMO, the largest problem with democracy in Russia today is partially to blame on the West, though most of the blame does still sit squarely on former President Yeltsin. Instead of worrying about tearing down Communism and spreading Capitalism around as if it would lead to democracy, I feel that the focus in the early 90's should have been more on democracratic reforms, and less on "shock therapy."
To sum up my views, I like Russian people, and I want to see them safe and prosperous, but I am worried that the likeliness of that happening are diminishing. But that's my opinion, and if you and your fellow countrymen disagree with me, then I accept that. It is your country, and the choices are yours to make; all I can do is wish you the best, and hope that you are right.