LONDON — Opinions about Vladimir Putin run the gamut. In the West, he is regarded as an "authoritarian," an "autocrat," even as a "dictator," while in Russia a huge majority regard him as the most "democratic" of leaders, on the grounds that he has done more than his predecessors to improve the lot of ordinary people.
There is one point on which both camps agree: Putin intends to remain in power indefinitely.
That conclusion stems from Putin's recent statement that he might become prime minister after relinquishing the presidency next May. Regardless of what Putin does, his personal influence and the strategic direction in which he has taken Russia will remain dominant for years to come.