Putin's weakness at home

Vladimir Putin's re-election Sunday to a fourth term as Russia's president constitutes far less of a voter mandate than a 76 percent majority would suggest. It should not deter the West from pushing back harder against Putin's aggressive foreign adventurism.

Under Putin, Russia's "managed democracy" preserves the illusion of legitimate elections and a popular mandate, even though the results were fixed. Putin's United Russia Party set itself the goal of a "70/70 election"-a 70 percent turnout and at least a 70 percent majority.

But the turnout goal apparently fell short. Anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was disqualified from the ballot, causing many younger Russians to stay home rather than vote for a stooge.

The economy is only now showing signs of recovery after five years in the tank. Corruption is endemic. The military swallows 30 percent of the budget. The national health care system is in crisis. Pension funding is threatened. The Economic Ministry has admitted that the standard of living won't improve much until 2035.

For the most part, Putin has dodged the bullet for all of this, though sanctions imposed after the Ukraine incursion continue to bite dozens of Putin cronies. The Obama administration expelled diplomats and seized Russian compounds to punish Russia for election meddling. Last summer Congress authorized more sanctions, and last week the Trump administration finally complied.

The U.K. has expelled diplomats but Russians continue to have heavy investments in London real estate. The United Nations is dithering about the nerve gas attack in Salisbury. Russia will still host the World Cup this summer.

Putin wants to be seen as the great and powerful Oz. It's time to start pulling back the curtain.

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