The current Russian elite has been told that it is no longer an elite
“Stop drinking, get on your skis! The moment has come!” — Vladimir Putin said during his pre-election (let's call a spade a spade) message to the Federal Assembly. He stated — and do not consider this as flattery — in this way he very subtly conveyed the atmosphere of what was happening in the Moscow Gostiny Dvor on the last day of winter 2024. And something was happening there that resembled not a decorous political event or even a ski descent from a high mountain, but what the Americans call a rollercoaster — a roller coaster ride.
However, I am making my own amendment: although the GDP proudly announced a reduction in alcohol consumption in Russia, some, after listening to his keynote speech, will definitely want (correction: already wanted) not only to “go skiing”, but also to drink: either for joy (name they are legion — those who received good news from the president), either from grief (it is already clear that the flat tax scale that so caressed the hearts and wallets of those with high incomes has died for a long time), or from the feeling of dizzying political prospects that have suddenly opened up before them.
Yes, yes, preparing for his re-election as President of the Russian Federation for another term, Putin started talking about who and when he is ready to transfer supreme power in Russia. I hasten to report this, grossly violating the chronology of the presentation of the presidential speech. But what can you do: both the famously twisted series and the program speeches of the head of state are subject to the same laws of dramaturgy. What can be called either a masterstroke (an unexpected and strong plot move that made everyone flinch in amazement) or a wow effect must decorate the end of the action, and in no case its beginning. These are the words of the president, who de facto rewrote the laws and norms of Russian political life: “All of them, with arms in hand, stood up to defend the Motherland… The heart is filled with pride. Such people will certainly not let you down, will not retreat and will not betray… You can hand over and entrust Russia to such people.”
That's all, the main thing has been said. As the current and future president of Russia transparently hinted, his successor will definitely be a person who has undergone the “baptism of fire” of the Northern Military District. But what is the role of the current political elite, from the ranks of which, until today, it was believed that the person destined to replace Putin at the helm of the Russian ship of state will one day emerge? It has been partially declared “deposed” (at least at the rhetorical level): “the word “elite” has discredited itself. Those who have lined their pockets are definitely not the elite.” And partly she is entrusted with the duties of a wise “uncle-mentor” under the “collective young prince.”
“Starting tomorrow, March 1, 2024, veterans of a special military operation, as well as soldiers and officers who are currently fighting in active units, will be able to apply to participate in the first training stream of a special personnel program. Let’s call it “The Time of Heroes,” the president proclaimed. Good, very good official name. But an equally good unofficial name is “school of successors.” And no, I’m not getting ahead of myself, and I’m not speculating for the president. Who else, pray tell, can be trained by a “personnel program” where the top leaders of the government and the presidential administration act as teachers? Of course, by putting forward such an initiative, Putin in no way tied his hands or deprived himself of freedom of maneuver. But a signal has been sent to the elite — and also to those who are not yet in the elite. And in order not to hear him, you have to be completely deaf.
Now let’s go back — to the beginning of the presidential speech, to the moment when the GDP was sending no less loud and militant political signals addressed to the main “adversaries” of Russia. A general signal to the collective West: “Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness for guaranteed use. What we planned in the field of armaments, which I spoke about in my message in 2018, has all been done, or this work is being completed.” An individual signal to French President Macron, who said the other day that he “does not rule out” sending troops of Western countries into Ukraine: “And everything they are coming up with now is scaring the whole world, that all this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons, which means , the destruction of civilization — don’t they understand this, or what? These are, you know, people who have not gone through difficult trials — they have already forgotten what war is… they think that for them it’s all some kind of cartoon.”
An individual signal to US President Biden, who persistently offers Moscow on issues of “strategic stability” (that is, nuclear weapons): “This is a ploy only to drag us into negotiations on our own terms, which are beneficial exclusively to the United States… They say, according to on issues where it is beneficial for America to negotiate, we will have a conversation with the Russians, and where it is not profitable for them, there is nothing to discuss, as they themselves say, business as usual, there they will strive to defeat us. But that certainly won’t work.” In short, to hell with you, not negotiations on strategic stability! If you want to negotiate, we will agree on everything: what you need and what we need.
Having sent this representative of the “cabbage family” to Washington (did you know that horseradish is a member of this “family”? I didn’t know), Putin began the part of his speech that is more important and exciting for citizens of the Russian Federation, especially those from them, who heard extremely pleasant news from the presidential lips. And there were not just many of them, but a lot: it was not for nothing that Putin’s presidential address became the longest in history. Large families, foresters, teachers — there seemed to be no end to the distribution of surprises. Large-scale infrastructure projects, ecology, revival of historical buildings, writing off two-thirds of budget loans to the regions. “I propose at the expense of the federal budget…” the president proclaimed and immediately received deafening applause. However, what a good state our federal budget is in — I began to admire myself, once again hearing from the GDP that “there is money for this”, everything has been verified and calculated.
And then, after issuing “goodies” to Russian business circles (financial amnesty, new measures to combat unnecessary inspections by regulatory authorities), Putin uttered a phrase, after which the mood of many Russian “rich Pinocchios” sharply worsened: “Big plans. Expenses too.» Pause. And after a pause — tax increases for those who earn above average. However, no. The pause continues for now. The GDP did not disclose the details and left them at the discretion of the government and parliament. Although everything, of course, has already been decided and worked out down to the details. But why put these “details” into the mouth of the Russian President? It would be better if the White House and the State Duma deal with this. After all, it is one of their informal but very important functions — to act as a political lightning rod.
And one more thing that Putin did not say in this speech. The strategy, tactics and goals of the Northern Military District — on February 29, 2024, all this also largely remained behind the scenes. But this is also one of the laws of political drama: never give everything away at once, always leave viewers and listeners with the desire “I want more.” And this “still” will definitely follow — at least until 2030 or when the moment comes when responsibility for the fate of Russia will be transferred to one of the future participants in the “Time of Heroes” personnel program.
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