MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - The political systems in democratic states cannot always react adequately to emerging economic problems, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
"For instance, a decision must be made to cut social spending. Who among the deputies will vote for this decision? He who raises his hand will not be elected to parliament next time," Putin said at the Russia Forum 2012.
It is a problem, since it is impossible to make perhaps painful but much needed decisions, he said.
Putin mentioned in this connection some of the European countries, which have been confronted with a serious economic crisis. "Let us not talk now about countries that are going through hard times. God grant them courage and political health," Putin said.
He mentioned Argentina, "where people were driven to the streets to break shop windows and blow up banks, instead of consolidating and solving problems that were absolutely clear to specialists and society."
"The question arises: Does such a system have any future or not? If it is to survive and carry on in its basic form, what should be changed so the economy will not be driven into a corner and countries will not lose their global positions? They are starting to lose their leading positions in the world economy. This is followed by a degradation of society itself and of the social sphere - an apparent thing. But this means that the system is skidding. This is what we wanted to say," Putin said.
Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russia News - Russia
MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - The political systems in democratic states cannot always react adequately to emerging economic problems, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
"For instance, a decision must be made to cut social spending. Who among the deputies will vote for this decision? He who raises his hand will not be elected to parliament next time," Putin said at the Russia Forum 2012.
It is a problem, since it is impossible to make perhaps painful but much needed decisions, he said.
Putin mentioned in this connection some of the European countries, which have been confronted with a serious economic crisis. "Let us not talk now about countries that are going through hard times. God grant them courage and political health," Putin said.
He mentioned Argentina, "where people were driven to the streets to break shop windows and blow up banks, instead of consolidating and solving problems that were absolutely clear to specialists and society."
"The question arises: Does such a system have any future or not? If it is to survive and carry on in its basic form, what should be changed so the economy will not be driven into a corner and countries will not lose their global positions? They are starting to lose their leading positions in the world economy. This is followed by a degradation of society itself and of the social sphere - an apparent thing. But this means that the system is skidding. This is what we wanted to say," Putin said.