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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (57) 745
Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (57) 745
January 19 - 25, 2009
Main tendencies of political week
The logic of developments during the crisis prompted authorities last week to deal with the problem of countering social and political consequences of the crisis more comprehensively. Until recently almost no systemic measures were taken in this direction and the stake was made mainly on use of force; currently the situation has changed. For the sake of counterpropaganda United Russia organized a number of rallies in support of the domestic automobile manufacturing industry and raising customs taxes on imported cars. This should draw accusations of lobbying interests of large businessmen aside from authorities and show that state authorities care about common workers. It is too early to draw the results, but judging by the first signs, United Russia’s role in covering these events is overemphasized.
The relations inside and between law enforcement and defense agencies are still tense, which is attributed to growth in their influence in the current situation. The prosecutor general’s office and its allies are still trying to restore at least part of positions lost as a result of establishment of the Investigation Committee (IC). In particular, the Supreme Court submitted a bill envisaging the return of the right to initiate criminal cases against special individuals to the prosecutor general’s office. However, it faced tough opposition by the IC allies and it is unlikely to be passed. Defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov managed to break his opponents’ resistance and lobby transfer of the right to sell property available as a result of military reforms to his ministry. Intensification of the process of selling the defense ministry’s property frozen last May should now be expected.
Administrative conflicts between civil agencies are not ceasing. In particular, agriculture minister Alexey Gordeyev managed to achieve an important interim victory: former head of Rosspirtprom Igor Chuyan has become chief of the recently created federal service for alcohol market regulations (Rosalcohol). Although struggle for Rosalcohol’s functions and role is continuing, one may suppose that the new entity will to a great extent rely on the agrarian block in the Cabinet despite its direct government subordination.
Major events January 19, 2009 - January 25, 2009
| Event | Winning side | Defeated side | Development Outlooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Duma passes law on abolishing election deposit at elections of all levels | United Russia, Communist Party |
| This measure will make it possible to finally limit the number of election participants at all levels to representatives of several leading parties |
| Bill on giving back the right to file criminal cases against special individuals to the Prosecutor General’s Office is submitted to State Duma | Yury Chaika | Alexander Bastrykin | Bill is likely to be rejected or its content will be diluted |
| Actions in support of the domestic automobile industry and increase in taxes on imported cars | United Russia |
| These events will somewhat neutralize unfavorable information background that emerged after protest actions in the Far East |
| Federation Council head Sergey Mironov suggests that collection of signatures by all registered parties should be abolished at all elections | Sergey Mironov |
| Proposal may be approved but in the form of UR’s initiative |
| Igor Chuyan is appointed head of the federal service for alcohol market regulations | Alexey Gordeyev | Anatoly Serdyukov, Mikhail Mokretsov | Chuyan’s rivals may receive influential posts in the service |
| Pravoe Delo submits documents to the justice ministry for registration | Pravoe Delo |
| The party will be registered without hindrances |
| Vladimir Piligin, head of the State Duma committee for constitutional law, says the minimal number of members of a party to be registered by the justice ministry will be decreased just by 5,000 to 10,000 members so far |
|
| Deputies will not further decrease the figure unless they are reminded to do so by top authorities |
| Justice minister Alexander Konovalov says among judges there should be those who came not only from law enforcement bodies but also lawyers and human rights activists |
|
| These words will remain pia desideria in the near term perspective |
| Staff cleansing in the St. Petersburg branch of the communist party is completed | Gennady Zyuganov | Ivan Melnikov | St. Petersburg’s branch of the party may weaken noticeably |
| Court rejects suit on finding a decision to dissolve SPS party invalid | Pravoe Delo |
| If this decision is appealed against, it will be dismissed |
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