Vladimir Putin was first elected president in 2000, and can now look forward to six more years as Russia's most powerful president. The next elections will be held in the year in which the Russian President turns 78.
Recently, the President has also implemented a number of changes in the government cabal and other roles in his inner circle. Many of the changes now implemented have put the spotlight on individuals who have been widely discussed as potential successors to the Kremlin's longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin, writes Newsweek.
Among others, Putin was ahead of Nikolai Patrushev (72) and Alexei Dyumin (51).
Matthew Sussex, an associate professor at the Griffith Asia Institute, wrote in X that the latest reorganization could be seen as an upgrade for both Patrushev and Dugumin.
– In light of Putin's practice, this could encourage more direct competition between two people who are often mentioned as potential successors, he writes.
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– It was the talk of the town
Dyumin, one of Putin's closest supporters, has a background in the military intelligence organization GRU and is believed to have played an important role in Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014.
He will now become an advisor to Putin and will oversee the defense industry. Julian Waller, a research analyst at CNA, describes Djomin's new position as an important promotion.
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– Djumin has been the talk of the town all year, so this is a perfect fit. Well positioned for the future, Waller writes in X.
Agentstvo, a Russian website launched in 2021, reported Tuesday that political researchers regularly mention Dzhumin as one of the leading candidates to succeed Putin, according to Newsweek.
Until now, Alexei Dzhumin was the governor of the Tula region. Photography: Mikhail Klementiev, Sputnik
Similar past
Nikolai Patrushev has been president of the Security Council for 16 years. Like Putin, he comes from St. Petersburg and was at the time head of the Federal Security Service, a position he assumed as Putin's successor.
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In October 2022, independent Russian news source Meduza wrote that key figures in the Kremlin were discussing a list of potential successors should Putin be ousted due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
It is said here that Patrushev was one of the names put forward. However, he has now been “demoted” to shipbuilding consultant. Meanwhile, his family name continues to come up in discussion.
Dmitry Peskov, who retains the position of Putin's spokesman, admits that Patrushev's duties will be very different than before. Photo: Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik
Hot name
Dmitry Patrushev, Nikolai's 46-year-old son, was also a really hot name in 2022, Meduza claims.
Dmitrij was promoted this week to the position of Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the agricultural sector.
Vladimir Putin was sworn in on May 7 and began his fifth term as president at a lavish inauguration ceremony in Moscow. It ends in 2030, but before the war in Ukraine, Putin made changes to the Russian constitution that allow him to remain in power until 2036.
Therefore, it may be a long time before Russia gets a new supreme leader. However, the 71-year-old's health has been on the agenda several times in recent years.
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