Politics begins at home

摘要

One month after Vladimir Putin was again elected Russian president, Moscow betrays few signs of drama. The protests that erupted in December have become sporadic, and the troops that were hauled in on election night are back in their barracks. The Kremlin has regained its composure without resorting to violence (as some had feared) or giving much political ground (as some had hoped). A month before Mr Putin's inauguration, his policies and the shape of his government remain unclear. But the implied message is that everything will carry on as before, bar a few tweaks here and there.