From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Russian democracy and power politics.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

Vladimir Putin is seen in the West as a throwback to the days of the Soviet Union, centralized power, control

of the media, stifling of political opposition. But since he was elected president, the economy

has been booming, and his combative behavior has persuaded Russians their back as a world power.

On to the point, will this weekend's parliamentary elections consolidate Putin's power,

even as the Constitution requires him to step down?

Will U.S. and Russian relations continue to deteriorate while both countries undergo political transitions?

On reporters' notebook later on, in their latest debate,

Republican candidates turn on each other. First, here's the news. Support for To the Point

comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program

Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again. Mormon-Aulney, back with To the Point. Vladimir Putin has restored authoritarian

rule, but growth and stability have made him wildly popular with most Russians. On To the

Point, this weekend's parliamentary elections are expected to increase Putin's strength,

even as his presidency will soon

come to an end. Will he hold on to political power? Are America's frayed relations with Russia in for

further deterioration? On reporter's notebook, we'll hear some fireworks from last night's Republican

debate in Florida. First, this news update, Pervez Musharraf was sworn in today for his third term as

Pakistan's president, but is first as a civilian. In a televised speech, he said he'll end the

...