Who will be Putin’s successor? A live discussion with WION, India’s leading global broadcaster

After several weeks of distraction with the Middle East crisis, today’s interview on WION was focused on my primary area of expertise, Russian affairs. I was especially pleased to have an opportunity to discuss with their moderator Shiban Jno who might be Vladimir Putin’s successor when he eventually steps down.

In this interview, I insist that, contrary to Western media narratives, Putin is not standing alone on the Russian political stage. On the contrary, he has formed and manages a team in the executive and legislative branches of government that is highly talented, hard working and patriotic. Foremost among these is prime minister Mikhail Mishustin, whom we see almost daily on television visiting new manufacturing facilities and meeting with both employees and management, speaking to the cabinet of ministers about coordinated actions to meet state objectives, and traveling abroad to Central Asia, to China for talks with his counterparts aimed at planning the realization of joint investment projects. His agenda is almost as full as Putin’s, meaning that he, too, has a smooth running administrative staff under him to provide support.

 As I say in the interview, Mishustin is no great orator. He is not charismatic…as yet. But let us recall that Putin was a poor public speaker when he came to office twenty three years ago.  And to his credit, Mishustin has wit and warmth. He seems to relate well to people from all levels of society. In a word, he combines the effectiveness of what Russians call a хозяйственник, meaning a good business manager, with the human touch that is essential for a good politician.

Of course, there are others in the Russian government whom we see daily on television performing their duties very impressively. One is the Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov. Another is Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who previously served for a decade or so as Minister of Energy with responsibility for relations with Opec and all other gas and oil issues.

To be sure, the question of Putin’s likely successor appears to be highly premature. The interview is predicated on his standing for re-election in March 2024 and remaining in power until 2030. But, as they say, man proposes and God disposes.

The interview also provided an opportunity to discuss several other key issues in Russian affairs, including the country’s role as leading force in the move to a multi-polar world order and its prospects of achieving its goals in the Special Military Operation in Ukraine.

I trust that readers of these notes will find the 14 minute video well worth their time

©Gilbert Doctorow, 2023