Coronavirus pandemic puts Russia’s strongman Putin to the test
- Covid-19 has created obstacles for Vladimir Putin’s bid to consolidate power, extend time in office
- Constitutional referendum was set to be held this week, but was postponed because of the growing number of cases in Russia
Instead, Moscow’s streets have been emptied: a jarring turn of events for a bustling city of nearly 12 million people.
Wednesday’s vote was postponed last month as part of a wave of measures meant to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected thousands, including a citywide lockdown in Moscow and the implementation of increasingly authoritarian surveillance networks.
But while these measures have been positioned as a way of maintaining control in a time of uncertainty, the developing pandemic has created an existential crisis for Putin, one that damages his image at a moment when public support is crucial for consolidating his regime well into the future.
The Russian constitution has given the president extensive powers since 1993, when Boris Yeltsin shored up his capacities in the wake of the constitutional crisis with the parliament that was resolved with military intervention. Since that time, the only official change was the 2008 decision to extend the term of office from four years to six.
Interestingly, Putin’s original intentions, back when the constitutional referendum was announced on January 15, were to limit the influence of the president. Both parliament and the prime minister would be given greater powers, and all governing organs would be placed under the advisory influence of the State Council, a political body to which Putin could retreat should he step back from the presidential role.
