STANDING on stage at the Gorky Automobile Plant in Nizhny Novgorod in early December, flanked by factory workers in blue jackets, Vladimir Putin spoke of the region’s history. After volunteers from Novgorod helped 17th-century Moscow overcome the Time of Troubles, the president said, “the united, centralised and powerful Russian state began to develop rapidly.” He called upon the car workers to continue in the same tradition. “With the active participation of people like you,” he declared, “Russia will keep moving forward.” They in turn called upon Mr Putin to announce his candidacy in next year’s presidential election then and there. “Everyone in this audience, without exception, supports you,” said a worker. He duly obliged—surprising no one.
On the economic front, the Russian automobile is indeed moving forward again, if slowly. After two grinding years of recession, the economy will grow in 2017. Adept policy responses helped stabilise the situation following the dual...Continue reading
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