Russia has been swept up in public displays of support for Vladimir Putin.
Is the president really seeking a presidency by public demand or is he searching for a leadership role that would not be linked to any formal government position?
The election campaign for the next Duma has essentially lost any meaningful political agenda. No specific issues that would shape the country's future are being discussed, other than the question of how to retain Putin in a leadership role one way or another.
Keeping Putin in charge appears to be the nation's only hope for everything to turn out well. Putin's Plan is being accepted as an article of faith without dwelling into its substance, and attempts to critically analyze or improve it are being met with derision and even hostility.
Putin himself has stated that he is dissatisfied with the Russian political parties, and had agreed to lead United Russia only "because we have nothing better." But he also made clear why he needs the popular mandate at the Duma elections- to acquire the moral right to hold Russia's future rulers accountable in following Putin's Plan.
