Let’s talk about power. The enticing nature of power and how those in power will do anything to maintain their position. I bring this topic up now because of two riveting advancements that hold the headlines firmly in their grasp – the trump impeachment trial and the Putin proposed changes to dynamics within the administration.

The impeachment, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, makes Donald Trump only the third president to ever face senate trial for impeachment. The difference this time is that, unlike his predecessors, he readily talks about the hearings. The narrative of events, in his mind, dismisses the gravity of the situation in being nothing more than a witch hunt.

The phone call being talked about in the above tweet refers to Trump’s direct correspondence with Ukraine over interference in the 2020 elections. This “call” made by the president trump is a potential –

To quickly outline the grounds of impeachment on this article, President Trump allegedly

• Corruptly solicited and investigation by Ukraine to assist his re-election
• Withheld aid to the country unless it co-operated

The complete articles of impeachment can be found here – https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/articles-of-impeachment-trump-abuse-obstruction-full-text-pdf-080185

On the other side of the world, in a country that actively opposes the United States, another person in a position of power is vying to maintain it. In a less public manner than Xi Jinping of China, Vladimir Putin is working his way around the term constraints of presidency. While the Chinese official simply abolished a term limit, Putin is using his position as president to redistribute power.

In 2024 the Russian President will complete his second consecutive term making him ineligible for re-election. He could, however, become Prime Minister a ploy he used in 2008 or manage the country from the Speaker of Parliament’s chair or run the party that dominates the parliament. Currently the President hold almost indefinite power but by making constitutional changes, such as those briefly outlined by Putin, they could be considerably shrunken. The shift in power dynamics takes the spotlight away from the president’s chair to whatever position the standing Russian president chooses to take post 2024.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/01/15/putins-new-plan-to-hold-power-forever-a68922 – provides a more detailed breakdown

Two countries with very different ideologies have two leaders fighting, some more publicly than others, over this intangible concept of power. Uncertainty is the only constant that surrounds the very concept of democracy, so the question is – what next?