This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

Nearly two years ago, Communist China’s Xi Jinping became its dictator for life. Yesterday, Russia’s Vladimir Putin unveiled a scheme that seems designed to secure for him a similar status. Such ominous consolidations of power by America’s foes are bad for their own people, as well as ours.

Putin cynically dressed up his gambit as a measure to limit the terms his successors might serve. Combined with demanding his entire cabinet’s resignation and tapping an unknown as prime minister, President Putin obviously wants to be seen as responding to growing public restiveness with his two-decades of dominance of the Russian government. 

The practical effect, however, of Putin’s proposed constitutional reforms and a referendum he has announced to endorse them is to defer any succession indefinitely. He will remain as president until 2024, then simply continue misruling in some new capacity.   

This is Frank Gaffney.