Zuma’s staunch global ally enjoys a November to remember

By Alec Hogg.An amazing month for SA President Jacob Zuma's staunchest global ally just got better. The result of November's elections in the US, Bulgaria, Moldova and now France suggest Russia's Vladimir Putin would love it to continue forever..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.Yesterday's nomination of Francois Fillon by the French Republican Party puts yet another Putin-friendly leader closer to power. Fillon, a social conservative who opposes multi-culturalism and takes a hard line against Islam, is calling for a "new understanding" with Putin's Russia..He is set for a head-to-head fight next year for the French Presidency with the far right's Marine Le Pen, a battle that pundits fancy him to win..Fillon's sympathetic approach towards Putin is in stark contrast with the one that has thus far prevailed in the West. The EU, together with Obama-run America, imposed sanctions on Russia to isolate Putin over his actions in Ukraine and support of the besieged Bashar al-Assad in Syria..At recent G20 meetings, Putin has been treated like a polecat by most other leaders, with only Zuma publicly displaying warmth and friendship. But all that could change after this month's dramatic swings in global politics..US President-elect Donald Trump has made no secret of his admiration for the Russian leader. He has also telegraphed that when he moves into the Oval Office the US will reverse its policy in the Middle East from helping Syrian rebels to siding with their enemy, Putin's ally Assad..Trump has justified his support of Putin as addressing the greater of two Middle Eastern evils – the Islamic caliphate ISIS. During his campaign, apart from well documented calls to ban Muslim visitors to the US, Trump has also been outspoken in his desire to crush ISIS..Like Trump, would-be French President Fillon, a steadfast Catholic, also campaigned on an anti-Muslim platform. He also expressed outrage at the threat posed to Christians in the Middle East and promised, if elected, France would also reverse its stance and support Putin and Assad in Syria..The Russian President is also seeing a remarkable switch in the attitude of his country's near neighbours..In Bulgaria, the Putin-friendly candidate General Rumen Radev (53), won the November 13 election and will replace a Kremlin critical predecessor in January. During his campaign Radev praised Trump for "seeking new dialogue" with Putin, promising Bulgaria would forge closer ties with Russia and called on the EU to end its sanctions against Russia..A similar movie played out in the Moldovan Presidential election also in mid-November where Putin-supporting Igor Dodon (41) prevailed against the pro-EU candidate Maia Sandu..Dodon has pledged to restore trade and political relations with Moscow and wants to cancel a trade agreement with the EU, instead taking Moldova into the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union..It has been an extraordinary month with Putin's friends enjoying an unlikely clean sweep. Whether there is more happening behind the scenes is conjecture but deep suspicion exists..In both Bulgaria and Moldova there are accusations of Russian financial support for the winners. And in the US, the defeated Hillary Clinton camp is convinced she would have won had the Russians not hacked into her emails..Whatever the truth, for South Africans, these geo-political developments carry significant relevance..As his seemingly irrational support of Syria's Assad showed, Putin prides himself on being a friend his allies can always depend upon. He is fiercely loyal. And for better or worse, Putin has befriended Zuma, helped no doubt by the promise of that controversial nuclear deal for Russia's State-owned Rosatom..Putin's support is a wild card the anti-Zuma faction both within and outside the ANC will need to factor in. Ditto those investors who are now making an early call on a post-Zuma future after some of the flawed leader's intimates have formally called for his ejection..Although Putin is now surrounded by a new group of powerful friends, it would be out of character for the Russian leader to push any ally under a bus. Even one as mercurial (and disposable) as South Africa's 74 year old leader. Not without good reason, anyway.

Zuma’s staunch global ally enjoys a November to remember

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