How likely is Russia to become a monarchy again?

[PAGE]

Already, the pretender to the throne should be legitimate.

[TimM]

In the 14 Dec 2018 issue of the Wall Street journal there is an article about making Putin Tsar!?

He already is a de facto Tsar. 

I saw a clip of him striding down the corridors of the Kremlin, with band music playing and servants opening doors for him as he approached.   I could easily see a Tsar getting the exact same reception.

The only difference is that the Tsar was, to most Russians, a mysterious and distant figure.  However, television and the Internet allows Putin to reach the people, no matter where they are. 

[Превед]

A short while ago I read that Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Romanova would like the rules of accession altered so that her son Michael can marry for love.
Who is the authority that she could appeal to?

According to the Fundamental Laws of 1906, a change in the Fundamental Laws' rule about Ebenbürtigkeit would require the ratification of both the ruling monarch, the State Duma and the State Council of a restored Russian Empire. So no formally valid way of going about that untill the monarchy is restored. Informally she could probably get away with it if the Orthodox Church gave its blessing, Putin his tacit approval (by attending the wedding) and the bride was a Russian. But allegedly Grand Duke Georgiy Mikhailovitch's girlfriend is an Italian.

[Превед]

I saw a clip of him striding down the corridors of the Kremlin, with band music playing and servants opening doors for him as he approached.   I could easily see a Tsar getting the exact same reception.

In a German documentary about the (second) German Empire I heard something interesting about the similar German Ersatz monarchs: Already during the reign of Wilhelm II the deposed Bismarck was the shadow monarch (regarded by many as the more competent statesman), then during WW1 Ludendorff and after the abolition of the monarchy Hindenburg as president. Hitler combined the roles of organic national leader, visionary statesman and official political leader in the role of Führer.

[TimM]

So yeah, Putin is Tsar, in everything but the title itself.

[GDSophie]

I think the only way to settle it, if Russia ever does bring back the throne (constitutional obviously) is to usher in a new dynasty. The current Romanovs are so divided on the 'true ruler' that picking from any side would have backlash. Picking a ruler that is Russian, and primarily Russian sounds better to most people. Someone rightfully 'theirs' rather then someone who only possesses an nonfunctional title. Who's connection to their homeland died a long time ago and one they no longer share. The Romanovs can't really say 'no'; they have no power in Russia and their dynasty was founded the same way.

Of course it would probably be hard; if they don't pick someone in or connected to the government they would have to narrow their search. I don't expect them to start knocking on the doors like 'hello, want to be the Tsar of Russia?' but hey, have to start somewhere.

[Lucien]

In the 14 Dec 2018 issue of the Wall Street journal there is an article about making Putin Tsar!?

He already is a de facto Tsar. 

I saw a clip of him striding down the corridors of the Kremlin, with band music playing and servants opening doors for him as he approached.   I could easily see a Tsar getting the exact same reception.

The only difference is that the Tsar was, to most Russians, a mysterious and distant figure.  However, television and the Internet allows Putin to reach the people, no matter where they are.

As to the initial question...Never...alas...