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Page 6 The Skanner Seattle March 21, 2018 News What to Expect From a Resurgent Russia in Putin’s New Term By Angela Charlton Associated Press MOSCOW — Vladimir Putin now has a stron- ger hold on Russia — and stronger place in the world — thanks to an overwhelming mandate for yet another term as president. His domestic oppo- nents are largely re- signed to another six years in the shadows. His foreign opponents are mired in their own problems, from Britain’s messy exit from the Eu- ropean Union to chaos and contradiction in the Trump administration. Even widespread vot- ing violations are unlike- ly to dent Putin’s armor. And accusations that he meddled in the U.S. election and sponsored a nerve agent attack in Britain have only bol- stered his standing at home. Here’s a look at what to expect from Putin’s next six years in power, for Russia’s rivals, neigh- bors and its own 147 mil- lion citizens. NEW COLD WAR? Relations between Russia and the West are already at their lowest level since the collapse of the Soviet Union 26 years ago. Despite a friendly-ish relationship with Presi- dent Donald Trump, Pu- tin’s new mandate gives him little incentive to seek entente with Wash- ington, especially as the investigation of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election in- tensifies. Putin-friendly lead- ers have made gains in recent Italian and Ger- man elections. Western countries are likely to see more Russia-linked hacking and propagan- da aimed at disrupting elections or otherwise discrediting democracy — including the U.S. mid- term elections in Novem- ber. Since Putin’s domestic popularity bumps when- ever he stands up to the West, expect more tough “ SYRIA AND THE EX- TREMIST THREAT Russian-backed Syrian forces helped rout the Islamic State group from Syria, and Putin argues that Russia saved the day in a conflict that had con- founded U.S.-led forces fighting against IS. Now those Rus- sian-backed Syrian forc- es are closing in on the last strongholds of West- ern-backed rebel forces. Viewing that as a geo- political and military victory over an illegal Western-led interven- tion, Russia is unlikely to pull out of Syria anytime soon. Despite a friendly-ish re- lationship with President Donald Trump, Putin’s new mandate gives him little in- centive to seek entente with Washington talk from Putin the next time he faces threats at home, and bolder Rus- sian vetoes at the U.N. Security Council of any- thing seen as threatening Moscow’s interests. His claim several weeks ago that Russia has de- veloped new nuclear weapons that can evade missile defenses clearly showed Putin’s adamant determination to boost Russia’s power to intim- idate. An emboldened Putin could position the resur- gent Russian military as a peacemaker in other regional conflicts — for example in Libya, where Russia has oil interests and where a disastrous Western invasion seven years ago left a lawless state now seething with extremists. RUSSIA’S NEIGHBORS To Russians, Putin’s biggest victory in 18 years in power was AP PHOTO/PAVEL GOLOVKIN AP analysis examines Putin’s likely impact on Russia, Syria and the West — including U.S. relations A person holds a banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Manezhnaya square, near Kremlin in Moscow March 18. An exit poll suggests that Vladimir Putin has handily won a fourth term as Russia’s president, adding six more years in the Kremlin for the man who has led the world’s largest country for all of the 21st century. annexing Crimea and crushing Ukraine’s am- bitions to move closer to the EU and NATO. Putin is frustrated at the resulting U.S. and EU sanctions but ap- pears unwilling to make concessions that would bring them to an end. Ukraine is split between a volatile government in Kiev and a Russia-backed separatist region stuck in a frozen but still dead- ly conflict that serves Pu- tin’s interests. Moscow’s actions in Ukraine sent a warning signal to other countries in Russia’s orbit that reaching westward is dangerous. And former Soviet bloc states within the EU are increasing- ly drifting back toward A career you can be proud of. Being a carpenter isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life. We’re devoted to strengthening the lives of our members with steady work, wealth and personal growth. We take a stand for our members and all workers. We work together to lead the building industry in safety, training and compensation. We create rich lives for our members and partners. To learn more about becoming a union carpenter, go to NWCarpenters.org. Moscow, from Hungary and Poland to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. FELLOW RUSSIANS Putin’s new mandate could theoretically hand him the power to make bold reforms that Russia has long needed to raise living standards and wean itself from its oil dependence. But Putin has con- vinced Russian voters that drastic change is dangerous, and that pro- tecting the country from threats takes precedence over improving daily life. Experts predict he may enact some changes like expanding affordable housing and fighting cor- ruption on a local level. But less likely are big- ger changes such as over- hauling the pension sys- tem, which is unpopular among a strong Putin voting base, or spending cuts in the security sec- tor, unpopular among the ex-KGB friends in Pu- tin’s entourage. Russia has weathered a two-year recession, and inflation and the deficit are low. But personal in- comes have stagnated, the health care system is crumbling and corrup- tion is rife. HIS OWN FUTURE The biggest question for Russians over the next six years is what happens after that. Putin is constitution- ally required to step down in 2024, but he could change the rules to eliminate term limits, or anoint a malleable successor and continue to run things behind the scenes. Asked at an impromptu news conference Sunday night if he would seek the presidency again in 2030, when he would be eligi- ble again, the 65-year-old Putin snapped back: “It’s ridiculous. Do you think I will sit here until I turn 100?” Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most serious foe, will face further pressure from authorities as he works to expose corrup- tion and official lies. Other Putin rivals such as candidate Kse- nia Sobchak and oli- garch-turned-dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky will try to gain a foothold through upcoming local elections and the parlia- ment. And members of Pu- tin’s inner circle will be jockeying for position for the day when he is no longer in the picture. Putin may revive ef- forts to promote artifi- cial intelligence and oth- er innovation as part of a focus on the younger generation, whose loyal- ty he needs to ensure his legacy outlives him. Make The Skanner part of your daily routine PORTLAND: 1636 East Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 | 503.261.1862 HEADQUARTERS: 25120 Pacific Hwy S, #200, Kent, WA 98032 | 253.954.8800 More than 20,000 members in the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy an in-depth read on your desktop. Grab a headline on your mobile device. Page through the print edition online.
