Is there a shortage of competent leaders in Russia?--Putin will look to another term

BBC:
Russia's Vladimir Putin has said he will seek another term as president in next year's election.

He made the announcement in a speech to workers at a car factory in the Volga city of Nizhny Novgorod.

"I will put forward my candidacy for the post of president of the Russian federation," he said.

Mr Putin has been in power since 2000, either as president or prime minister. If he wins the March election he will be eligible to serve until 2024.

Russian TV journalist Ksenia Sobchak has already said she will stand in the election but opinion polls suggest Mr Putin will win easily.

Russia's main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been formally barred from standing because he was found guilty of embezzlement - a charge he claims was politically motivated.

Mr Putin is popular with many Russians, who see him as a strong leader who has restored Russia's global standing with a decisive military intervention in the Syrian civil war and Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

But his critics accuse him of facilitating corruption and illegally annexing Crimea, which has led to international condemnation.
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Russia's economy has been hurt by the increased supply of oil and natural gas by none OPEC countries like the US.  Israel has also become a player in the natural gas supply business and has recently worked out a deal to supply much of southern Europe.  That is a market that Russia would like to have counted on.   However, sanctions have also limited the number of buyers for its energy business.

The current Rusian GDP is smaller than that of South Korea.  In fact, the state of Texas GDP is competitive with that of Russia.  As South Korea has shown economic wealth is not necessarily tied to the amount of real estate within a country but in the brain power of its people and a market system that is open to innovation.  In that regard teh acquisition of Crimea looks like a net negative for Russia.

What is striking is the shortage of available candidates.  In the US dozens competing for the nomination of President and Donald Trump was a surprise winner.  In Russia, it appears the only potentially available alternative to Putin is a TV announcer?

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