Boring Old Russia

I have to admit it: I love a good, rough-and-tumble political campaign. And yet, Russia’s recent presidential campaign—which almost made Soviet-era elections look unpredictable—was somehow enjoyable. After a decade marked by coup attempts, parliament sieges, wildly optimistic economic programs, cabinet reshufflings and Caucasian wars, boring is good. It is easy to see why Russians welcome the steady hand of the “enlightened Chekist,” Vladimir Putin.

Russia deserves a bit of peace, a bit of political boredom. Hopefully President Putin will bring this. Plus sober economic prosperity. Russia needs that too.

Already, there are positive signs in the offing. As this issue was going to press, it was reported that Russia’s monthly inflation for March was just 0.6%, or less than one-third of what it was two months previous.