What is the status of Putin’s health?
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s health has been the subject of much speculation recently, with unsubstantiated rumours circulating that he may have Parkinson’s disease or cancer.
In the past few years, the Russian president has been spotted limping, looking pale and even getting caught on camera with a bad case of bedhead.
Some people in Russia speculate that Putin is ill and declining his health. Others think he has a rare disease and needs to be seen by doctors.
For years, theories have been circulating about what might be wrong with Putin, with some suggesting he may have cancer or HIV/AIDS.
The Kremlin denied such beliefs but did not prevent observers from investigating minute details of the videos of Putin’s meetings, such as a tense stance or a brief earthquake. However, not only Putin was subjected to such a test. For decades, high-profile political leaders have been embroiled in health speculation over even small details, such as when Richard Nixon was seen sweating under studio lights during a televised debate with John F. Kennedy in 1960 or when Donald Trump broke up. In a discussion between him and Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Trump’s health was also the subject of widespread media attention in 2020 before, during and after contracting COVID-19, where he was briefly hospitalized. Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting at the Greater Kremlin in Moscow on April 26, 2022. Rumours about Putin’s health have been circulating in recent weeks.
“When the human nature of political leaders is on display for longer periods in unscripted public events, in live televised debates, judging audiences especially expect good health.” — David Clementson, public affairs officer at NYU’s Department of Advertising and Public Affairs. Georgia, he told Newsweek. “The public doesn’t want to see a politician succumbing to human emotions, with a tear in one eye, or cold symptoms like coughing and stuffy nose.” This may make sense during a national election because of a country’s political, economic and social The direction may depend on the general health and skills of the leader.
Why does the West care about Putin too?
“I think there are at least two reasons why people care about the health of politicians,” Alexandra Chikhotskaya, a lecturer in political psychology at the University of Kent in the UK, told Newsweek. “First, we want to know if anyone is suitable for the position.
This may be a legitimate concern, but it can also be part of political attacks. Here I am reminded of the Trump campaign, which constantly questioned the health and stamina of Hillary Clinton. Similarly, the question of Putin’s health could be a way to challenge his leadership.”
“However, there may be a second reason why stories about Putin’s poor health are so attractive,” he continued. “The invasion of Ukraine is an existential threat, and people may be tempted to explain why something so devastating is happening. Putin’s malaise can help make sense of this otherwise impossible situation.” This may also explain why some politicians are eager to keep medical records secret.
Although he did well in a televised debate with Nixon in 1960, Kennedy had a long medical history that has only become more fully explored in the last few decades. The former president suffered from several illnesses and generally more than the public knew. He suffered from colitis, urinary tract infection, and adrenal insufficiency and was hospitalized several times for back and intestinal problems between 1955 and 1957.