Kremlin Ponders Ways for Putin to Hold On Even If He Steps Down
- Officials study Nazarbayev’s exit while retaining key roles
- Putin’s scheduled 2024 departure may spark Kremlin infighting
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An aging leader steps down as president but keeps a firm grip on the reins of power. For many in the Kremlin, the choreographed events unfolding in neighboring Kazakhstan are a model for Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider.
Unlike his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev, however, nobody’s certain Putin could pull off a transfer of power without triggering destabilizing infighting among rival Kremlin camps that currently is held in check by his rule. The political and personal risks to Putin are high.