Vladamir Putin.............here we go again

So Mr. Putin has given his strongest indication yet that he has every intention of remaining in power for the foreseeable future. (Source: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1002/1191223002341.html) . Now perhaps it is just me, but it is not Safe to have that level of power concentrated in the same person for that length of time. As the old saying goes, 'Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely' . Putin has been in power since 2000 and re-elected in 2004 which means next year when he is due to step down he will be 8 years in office. The plan, based on the source would be that Vlad would step down as President of Russia, but take up the post of Primeminister but upon the ending of his term as PM, he would be legally allowed to contest the 2012 Presidential elections. That in my view, is not good for democracy & not good for the seeds of democracy in Russia.

However something struck me as I was thinking about this post, Bertie Ahern has been in power since 1997. Now I am not saying that he is by anyway comparable in a shape or form to Mr. Putin, however the old saying stands.