Does Putin intend to rule for life — or does he have other plans?

Moscow — When Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes this month, prompting the replacement of his entire government, analysts were quick to assume he was charting a course to rule Russia for life. Two weeks later, here’s what we can say we know for sure about Putin’s plan: very little. Despite the headlines about Moscow’s big political shakeup, Russians are still uncertain about just what the Kremlin has in mind for their country’s political future. Let’s back up. What happened? Advertisement In his annual state-of-the-nation address on Jan. 15, Putin, who has been in power for 20 years, called for an overhaul of Russia’s constitution that...