Perfidious perpetuity of power
meeting had gone well and the Russian leader “seemed a lot more open doing business “than what the US delegation had expected, the US team had wondered “how much of what Medvedev said was cleared with Putin beforehand.” And this assessment was generally shared by most world leaders. After Medvedev’s one term in office and Putin became eligible again to become his country’s President, Putin ran and won again with an overwhelming majority. He became the paramount leader of his country once more, which in reality he had never lost. One major accomplishment of Medvedev during his presidency was the extension of the presidential term from four years to six years. Any guess who was behind it?
Putin did not waste his opportunity to amend the Russian constitution removing the constitutional provision barring him to seek a third consecutive term. He was a fast learner. After winning his second 2nd term, he floated the idea of scrapping the prohibition. Last July 2020, 78 percent of the Russians voted to amend its constitution that will allow Putin to run for president two more times—in 2024 and in 2030. Potentially, he could extend his rule until 2036 making him the longest ruler of Russia since Peter the Great who ruled Russia from 1672 until his death in 1725. Incidentally, before 1696, Peter the Great coruled Russia with his elder half-brother, Ivan V, to ensure that power would not fall outside the family. However, Putin’s reign would even eclipse the tenure in office of Joseph Stalin. Tandemocracy, if unchecked, can lead to autocracy and absolute and perpetual hold of power. As Lord Acton had warned us, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
In any country, power and greed are lethal combinations that debauch public officials. The lust for power and insatiable greed are the badges of corrupt politicians. They should be thrown out of public service. No one has the monopoly of talents and devotion to serve his people. A government position is not reserved to any ruling family or elite who can use or abuse their power to keep themselves or their minions in office.
Political dynasties are common features that dot our political landscape. In every region or province, there is a powerful family that controls the political and economic life of the place. Their family members or dummies occupy the top public elective offices in their political subdivision. When the term of the office holder expires and he is barred to run for another term, he will field his wife, son or daughter to succeed him in his post to ensure that political power is preserved within the family. They succeed to the throne of power like they enjoy the divine rights of kings. Another variation adopted by many politicians is to pick a family member to run as his running mate and then swap positions when one or both of them have served out their maximum terms of office. The longer a person stays in power, he becomes more entrenched and formidable in his position. As the saying goes, it is quixotic for an outsider to fight the city hall. Incumbents enjoy undue advantages over a challenger. Even if he slides down as the running mate of his anointed candidate, the privileges of the party-in-power will spell victory. The forthcoming 2022 elections will be no different. Voters will be treated to the same circus. We may be entertained by different magicians, but they will employ the same political tricks. Creating our own Putin will be worse than this pandemic. God bless the Philippines!