Why is the world not surprised? Russian president Vladimir Putin has just won a ‘referendum’ which consolidates him as president for life. He scored an amazing 78 percent of the vote. Voters may have been confused – there were about 200 changes across a raft of issues including pension increases in the referendum and buried among the proposed changes, by chance, a bit which idly allows that a ‘yes’ vote also meant a ‘yes’ to Vladimir’s life presidency as well – it was an ‘all yes or nothing’ vote. Mr Putin can now stay in office until 2036 when he will be 83.

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