Putin's Fifth Inauguration: Evolution of Putinism or a Dictatorial Standstill?

Finnish expert Jussi Lassila analyzed Vladimir Putin's inauguration for his fifth term as President of Russia, noting, "Putin does whatever he wants, but he is always afraid of absolutely everyone."

Jussi Lassila, a senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute for Foreign Policy, shared his insights with "Iltalehti," describing Putin's latest inauguration as "a new stage in the evolution of Putinism." He remarked, "Putin does what he wants," highlighting the Finnish expert's perspective.

In March, reports by Bloomberg surfaced that Kremlin elites were bracing for "significant changes" after the presidential elections. At the time, it was anticipated that Putin was planning major overhauls, potentially replacing familiar faces with new ones. Mihail Zygar, a senior researcher at the US Atlantic Council, speculated about the possibility of Dmitry Patrushev, the son of Putin’s old confidant Nikolai Patrushev, ascending to the role of Prime Minister.

Lassila noted the ongoing power struggles behind the scenes, yet pointed out that many key ministers, like Sergey Lavrov of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have held their positions for years. He also believes that Mikhail Mishustin will likely remain the Prime Minister. "Understanding Putin's thought process is impossible," he noted, adding, "The whole system is, in a way, paralyzed. Governance is becoming increasingly dictatorial."