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    Putin promises Russians bigger say in politics

    Associated Press – Mon, Feb 6, 2012

    MOSCOW (AP) — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is running for a third term as president, on Monday promised Russians a bigger say in politics amid the growing public discontent with his dominance of power.

    In a campaign article published in the Kommersant daily on Monday, Putin said the government must turn around its institutions to accommodate the increasingly vocal grass roots.

    "The quality of our public governance is lagging behind the willingness of civil society to take part in it," he said.

    Putin, who was Russia's president in 2000-2008, is facing a wave of public discontent over widespread election fraud in the Dec. 4 parliamentary election.

    Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Russian cities since December. Sunday's protest in Moscow drew as many as 120,000 people despite temperatures plummeting to 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius).

    Although he has not mentioned any concrete steps to allow a great public participation in state affairs, the prime minister stressed the need "to renew the mechanism of our democracy."

    Putin also spoke in favor of a public discussion of key legislation and said that regional and municipal officials should have more freedom in budget policies and governance.

    In response to the growing public frustration and anger with corrupt officials, Putin promised to bring changes to the bureaucratic system and eliminate the incentives for officials take bribes.

    The Kommersant daily ran Putin's piece on its front page but accompanied the article with a fact box, listing steps and legislation passed under Putin to curtail democracy and put pressure on non-governmental organizations.

     
    • Mike. C
      Mike. C  •  3 mths ago
      I wouldn't believe a dam thing Putin has too say! The Russian people want to be free! Putin, step down and allow others to lead these people to freedom! Or, they will remove you by force!
      • mGLa
        mGLa 3 mths ago
        Every person is free, thank you very much. No leader controls human freedom. Anywhere.
      • Ugottabkdnme
        Ugottabkdnme 3 mths ago
        @MGLa... I have to assume that is sarcasm
      • Mike. C
        Mike. C 3 mths ago
        Not sure what MGLa, is talking about. As usual, if they have an argument, they always fail to go down that road!
    • Denis
      Denis  •  3 mths ago
      The problems is Puitn .. why is he able to, as he put give more power to the people. If he can give than he can take it away. The power should come from laws and policies not from one man. That is why Putin is the problem and russia needs make changes.
    • gopher
      gopher  •  3 mths ago
      They can now speak before imprisonment.
      • Poorme
        Poorme 3 mths ago
        Well, well, well, you seem to #$%$ will know that the true purpose of Prisons isn't Justice but Destruction.
    • Vanessa
      Vanessa  •  Roanoke, Virginia  •  3 mths ago
      Like all other politicians - he is just saying - what he THINKS
      they want to hear. When he gets the third term - it will be
      back to the usual.
      • Stephen
        Stephen 3 mths ago
        You would think he's American politician!
    • Sundance 44
      Sundance 44  •  3 mths ago
      I hope the russian people realize putin will say anything to get their vote.
      • Sean
        Sean 3 mths ago
        Sounds like a certain current US president....
      • Ugottabkdnme
        Ugottabkdnme 3 mths ago
        Sounds like ANY US president
    • LouisM
      LouisM  •  Lake Forest, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      Democracy is an illusion that can only be supported by a strong economy . . Russia went from being a totalitarian state to a criminal state which in the long run means exactly the same thing but with better PR . . And the Russian people are beginning to realize this . .

      America is slowly becoming a hybrid democratic/police state because of the ever (quickly) growing disparity between the haves and have-nots. Understandably the haves want protection from the anger of the have-nots and the people we elect seem to stand impotent on doing anything about the disparity issues.

      Just look at our tax laws, a 4 foot high tome of incomprehensible rubbish that exists ONLY to benefit the haves . . I'm not suggesting revolution or socialism, just common sense. Norway, Denmark and Sweden are very successful economies and they do through equitable tax laws.
      • Denis
        Denis 3 mths ago
        The problem the haves nots want it given to them for free. The haves have worked , saved, invest, educated and live within their budget.
      • LouisM
        LouisM 3 mths ago
        That's just not true. . Sure, there have always been grafters but there are now millions of ex-haves out there that would kiss your butt just to get back to work. And they, not so long ago, were the ones who saved, invested, educated and lived within their budget and they were ruined by the system failure of the Gov. to regulate the banks and wallstreet ..
      • organizizer
        organizizer 3 mths ago
        Denis, thats mostly not true. There are some lazy scammers on *both* sides of the have/have-not line.

        But there are also a *lot* of people who never had access to a decent education, and therefore never had a decent job and a chance save, invest.

        Sometimes their "budget" doesn't allow life -only slow starvation. -or a half-decent life up till they lose their health (and of course couldn't afford insurance).
    • Pavel
      Pavel  •  3 mths ago
      Under Commies life sucked and government ignored its peeople, but you couldn't complain. Now life sucks and government still ignores its people, but you CAN complain. Long live democracy!!!
    • Tom Stevens
      Tom Stevens  •  3 mths ago
      Politicians & promises. .. like oil & water!!
    • Eko
      Eko  •  Lenora, Kansas  •  3 mths ago
      If Putin meant any of the words he's spouting, he'd announce he's withdrawing his run for office. This is just lip service to try to make people think he even remotely cares about what they think.
    • Scott
      Scott  •  3 mths ago
      The only way there will ever be democracy in Russia is if Russians vote against Putin. As long as he is in power Russia will remain a totalitarian regime.
    • Susan
      Susan  •  Washington, District of Columbia  •  3 mths ago
      Last time he promised to live up to democracy.....so he's further lowering the bar.
    • Bernie's World/ Nowli ...
      Bernie's World/ Nowli ...  •  Parsippany, New Jersey  •  3 mths ago
      NO NO NO Why now offer this? Had two terms and now he says this? I don't think so
    • KopiOooOOO
      KopiOooOOO  •  Singapore, Singapore  •  3 mths ago
      this kind of promise can easily be denounced once you get political powers at the top. only fool shall believe.
    • Sahr L'Obscur
      Sahr L'Obscur  •  3 mths ago
      ...Although he has not mentioned any concrete steps to allow a great public participation in state affairs, the prime minister stressed the need to "renew the mechanisms of our democracy." QUID????? What democracy????? fer crying out loud!!!! Pffffft!
    • mu
      mu  •  3 mths ago
      putin don't care what he gives up as long as he can be russian president for life and rule over the people.
    • albertt
      albertt  •  Sunnyvale, California  •  3 mths ago
      Mr.V.Putin please listen to your people. Let the new generation run your country . You must stop trying to relive the past. You have all the money and power you need in this life time.
      Have mercy on the poor Russian people trying to live on $50.00 a month pension.
    • Steef Broganoff
      Steef Broganoff  •  3 mths ago
      You will give them more say in politics? They don't get their say from you. YOU get your say from them. The fact that you can't grasp this is EXACTLY what this protest is about.
    • GT
      GT  •  3 mths ago
      When hundred of thousands of people take to the street, I think it's time to let go of you ego and go!
    • larry m
      larry m  •  Baltimore, Maryland  •  3 mths ago
      Iran is paying off russia and china for their veto at the un. They are about a buck !!!!!
    • Morgman
      Morgman  •  Highlands Ranch, Colorado  •  3 mths ago
      4 degrees F = -15 C Associated Press. Not -20 C. Can't you guys do even basic math?
     Post a comment
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