Jonah Hull of Worldfocus partner Al Jazeera English reports on Ireland’s approval of the historic Lisbon treaty and explains how a political superstar is waiting in the wings for a return to power.

Niall Stanage, an Irish journalist who covers business and politics from New York, joins Daljit Dhaliwal to discuss the reasons why Irish voters originally rejected the Lisbon Treaty and their recent reversal in course.

He also discusses the role that a future EU presidency might take, how the rest of Europe is reacting to Ireland’s decision and the implications for the U.S.

Geneive Abdo, a former journalist based in Iran and now an analyst with the Century Foundation in Washington, joins Martin Savidge to discuss Khatami’s decision, how his victory would theoretically transform Iran-U.S. relations and Vice President Joe Biden’s statement that the United States is willing to talk to Iran.

A banner for presidential elections shows Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, proclaiming “Together, we will be victorious!”

On Friday, Russian lawmakers voted to extend the presidential term from four to six years. The bill, proposed by President Dmitry Medvedev, faces one more reading before becoming law, and has led to suspicions that Prime Minister Vladmir Putin will reclaim the presidency.

In compliance with constitutional requirements, Putin stepped down as president earlier this year. He appointed Medvedev, who has been called his “puppet.” If Putin returns to the presidential seat, he could serve a total of 20 years in the position.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent Brian Whitmore writes at “The Power Vertical” blog about another possible job title for Putin — speaker of the State Duma — and explores the politician’s consolidation of power under various job titles.

Prime Minister. President. Speaker. Does It Really Matter?

Another day, another round of speculation about a new job for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

When President Dmitry Medvedev submitted legislation to the State Duma last week proposing extending the presidential term from four years to six, it sent the Moscow punditocracy abuzz with anticipation that Putin was gearing up for a return to the Kremlin.

This week, however, the talk is all about Putin getting himself named speaker of the State Duma.

Prime Minister. President. Speaker. But does it really matter?

A brief story in today’s “The Moscow Times” by Nabi Abdullaev had an interesting little nugget suggesting that it doesn’t. Putin is planning to continue his tradition of holding a televised question-and-answer session with ordinary citizens via video link early next year. It will be Putin’s seventh such session, and his first since leaving the presidency.

Abdullaev quoted an unidentified senior official from the ruling Unified Russia party as saying that with the broadcast, Putin “will act more in the role of party leader than prime minister.”

It has become abundantly clear that Putin will continue to be Russia’s true ruler. But the true source of his power will not be a state post like president, speaker, or prime minister. This is mere window-dressing.

Putin’s real power will stem from Unified Russia and its sprawling system of nomenklatura that encompasses not just the federal parliament and government, but also regional legislatures, local governments, and the commercial elite. The road to success in business, politics or academia in Russia today runs through the party’s Byzantine labyrinth.

This is how pre-perestroika Soviet leaders ruled from Stalin to Chernenko. And it is how we can expect Putin to rule as well.

It is probably just a matter of time before the party’s general-secretary formally moves his office to the Kremlin.

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The views expressed by contributing bloggers do not reflect the views of Worldfocus or its partners.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Neeka under a Creative Commons license.

Welcome to Zardaristan

On Saturday, a group of less than 500 politicians annointed Asif Ali Zardari as the next president of Pakistan. It was less the victory of democracy, and more that of small-minded elites.

These politicians have bandwagoned around Zardari — a man bankrupt of achievement, aptitude, moral rectitude, and public esteem, blamed by many for the downfall of his wife’s political career during the 1990s, effectively separated/estranged from her and indifferent to politics a year and a half back and now the inheritor of her checkered legacy.

They have lavished Zardari with undeserved platitudes and legitimacy.

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The views expressed by contributing bloggers do not reflect the views of Worldfocus or its partners.

Associated thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images.