Post Putin Plan for Russia

'There is a tide in the affairs of men,

Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat,

And we must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures.' 

Source: Wm. Shakespeare in Julius Caesar Act 4Scene 3Line 249

Russia today faces its arguably most consequential crossroads since 1918. 

Putin's tyranny has nearly run its course in Ukraine and, consequently, in Russia as well. The military is not effective, Moms are angry at the losses of nearly one million sons, Putin will die in the near future and there is no succession plan in place.  

A Russian failure to plan any transition may result in more misery and repression if another tyrant takes over - such a takeover may result in prolonging Putin's repressive policies.

However, Russia can make a different choice, a choice which would avoid that future. Russian power brokers [political, military, security, et al] can choose to install a representative government instead of a tyranny. After all, most Russians want to look to the West and perhaps join the European Union [EU]. There's a lot of hard work to create that future, but it can be done.

With proper planning Russia can emerge as a stable, prosperous member of the European Union. Great nations are great because their citizens are prosperous. [THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREAT POWERS, Paul Kennedy, 1987, Random House New York.]

The good news is that choosing EU membership as a goal will install a sound economy, reduce political repression and assure Russia's power and influence at a time when Western Democracies including the United States have become so indebted to Oligarchs and thus frozen in policies that they will likely fall behind as Russia advances.

A country can become an official candidate for EU membership once it meets basic political, economic and reform criteria. It can then start formal negotiations on 35 chapters covering many different policy areas with the EU.

'In order to apply for EU membership, a country has to be European and respect the EU's democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of the EU membership. Dec 6, 2023.'

  

Here are those detailed steps.

BEFORE THE EU APPLICATION

There are some prerequisites before making an EU application.

STEP 1: Establish a shadow Duma before Putin's demise using expat Russians who will meet and work on the EU Candidate process; and, begin writing a new Constitution. USA and EU can help organize and fund this. The shadow Duma can continue after Putin's demise until a newly elected Duma can meet. 

STEP 2: Create a Steering Committee to manage the process. This Committee will have vast authority but only for a limited time. It may require outside assistance to keep to the course. It will establish coordination with both top intelligence and military officials to secure their agreement they will accept subordination to civilian authority established pursuant to the new Constitution. Discharge those who refuse.

Step 3: Enact martial law to prevent violence, election interference and possible overthrow of new government. 

STEP 4: Conduct elections to the new Duma with international supervision ensuring election integrity.

STEP 4.  Nationalize all enterprises above an arbitrary limit such as 1,000 employees. The state will manage the enterprises. Later, the Duma can negotiate proposed acquisitions on a case-by-case basis with the objective of professional sustainable management and financial capacity

STEP 5. New government seeks outside cash assistance to endure that newly nationalized enterprises can meet their payroll until divested. Such assistance may take the form of loans to the State or firm. Loans to enterprises can be repaid upon a sale to private parties. 

STEP 6. Appoint judges who support the new government to all judicial posts. Ensure each judicial appointment requires a public impeachment in the Duma to be overturned or compromised.

STEP 7. Establish Civil Service board to establish required credentials for new employees select and install government employees. Ensure that all meetings of the Board will be publicly viewable. 

STEP 8. New Duma will establish areas of interest for business enterprise regulation; then, it will write appropriate regulations.