Putin Digs in His Heels

After today's parliamentary elections in Russia, Vladimir Putin's party has won a strong victory in the Duma.

In a feat, which probably has Boris Yeltsin reaching for another drink in his still flushed, vodka-soaked grave, Putin is looking at expanding his powers further. Not convinced that the end of his eight years as president of the former Soviet Union's largest member is enough, he is looking at becoming the next prime minister or even president again.

The latter part has many people worried about democracy in Russia.

The Russian constitution forbids Putin from running for a consecutive third term; however, he would be eligible to run again in the 2012 presidential election. Also, there are some constitutional analysts who believe Putin could resign before the end of his second term as president and be eligible to run again in the 2008 presidential election, considering he did not serve two, full consecutive terms in the presidency.

Putin, an ex-KGB agent, who is only 55 years old, is certainly not ready to count his blessings or slip off into the night to assume a life of leisure and silent reflection in retirement.