The secret manual of Vladimir Putin

At a recent awards ceremony at the Kremlin, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia could not help but recount his country’s great achievements of the last couple of years. But he also offered a word of caution: “We still have a lot of work to do, a lot of unsolved problems and questions,” he said, “It is certainly not a time for us to be dizzy and ecstatic with our success.” Undoubtedly, this was a deceptive expression of humility by Mr Putin.

Many Russians view Mr Putin as a highly successful politician. His approval rating has reached levels upwards of 80 per cent for nearly two years, but few are making a public case for redefining or even amending the notion of what constitutes a Moscow leader’s success.

Indeed, Vladimir Putin’s success comes from a secret manual describing his art of governance, and this include three very important rules that both Josef Stalin and Vladimir Putin have mastered.

Rule No. 1 calls for attributing all victories to oneself – regardless of who or what contributed to the perceived success. For example, a victory in war won by the people at impossible cost has to be ascribed to the leader. Prosperity, even if a gift from Mother Nature or market forces, is an achievement of the president.

Rule No. 2 is that failures must be ascribed to subordinates or external forces. Stalin did not invent this trick but he perfected it with brutal efficiency. He created disaster after disaster, but his associates and subjects just kept admiring him, or at least fearing him.

Rule No. 3 is the ability to manipulate what used to be called the ‘party line’. One day Hitler is an enemy, the next day a friend, then later an enemy once again. Another day, leftwing forces are the party’s enemies, the next day it’s best friends.

Mr Putin has proved adept at all three rules. He took credit for the oil-driven economic boom (Rule No 1). Then, when the economy tanked, he has allowed blame to be placed on his Ministers, particularly Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev, or has pointed a finger at the West (Rule No 2).

Putin has also changed the party line with dizzying agility (Rule No 3). One day Russia is a business-friendly economy, the next day it is a statist power. One day Russia is busy integrating with the former Soviet republics, the next day it is fighting them. One day Russia proclaims sovereignty sacred, the next day it annexes Crimea, a neighbouring country’s territory.

This is the myth of Vladimir Putin’s leadership that in some countries of Europe and even in the United States, other wouldbe czars (presidents) – like Donald Trump for example – are seeking to emulate. Jos Edmond Zarb Birkirkara