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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (64) 752
Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (64) 752
March 09 - March 15, 2009
Main tendencies of political week
Dmitry Medvedev continued his active work on the macro-political direction last week demonstrating that the crisis was not an impediment to long-term political projects. In particular, a new stage of state service reforms (the previous stage was implemented during Vladimir Putin’s presidency) as well as fight against corruption was launched. Despite a wave of criticism regarding efficiency of the proposed measures, the president has sent at least two clear signals. Firstly, the crisis should not become a pretext to narrow the horizon of planning and reduce the amount of tasks to be solved to mere survival. Secondly, he is a successor, not a destroyer of the power system formed before him.
The topic of succession was also noticeable in Dmitry Medvedev’s HR decisions promulgated last week. It was especially vivid when Rosagroleasing general director Elena Skrynnik was appointed agriculture minister. Considering that at least two influential elite groups (some governors who were named among candidates could not be taken into account) were struggling for this post, the president’s decision fully meets the HR style of his predecessor. In particular, when it concerns top appointments he does not make any sharp HR decisions and tries to balance the interests of leading elite groups.
However, there are representatives of the elite who are interested in fundamental restructuring of the current system and relations. Last week there was an event that illustrated how the tandem members reacted to such activities. In particular, information was posted that Valery Okulov, a representative of the Family group, might lose his post of Aeroflot general director in favor of Vladimir Putin’s protégé Vitaly Savelyev. In addition to business matters (struggle for control over the major air carrier), there may be another hidden motive in this situation. According to unofficial information, Alexander Voloshin, an informal leader of the Family group, last month intensified his activities aimed at urging Dmitry Medvedev to dismiss the government over the crisis. Thus, the situation around Aeroflot may be considered another final warning by the majority of the elite interested in retaining the status quo.
Major events March 09, 2009 - March 15, 2009
| Event | Winning side | Defeated side | Development Outlooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting of the anti-graft council chaired by Dmitry Medvedev | Dmitry Medvedev, Yury Chaika, Alexander Konovalov |
| Anti-corruption struggle won’t yield noticeable results in the next few years |
| The president signs decree on five-year program of state service reforms |
|
| The bureaucracy may sabotage the reforms |
| Dmitry Medvedev attends a meeting of the State Council and presidential council for religious organizations | Dmitry Medvedev, Patriarch Kirill |
| Church and the state will intensify their dialogue |
| Dmitry Medvedev attends the Council of Legislators’ meeting | Dmitry Medvedev |
| Governors who have not noticed the president’s hint to be more active will lose their posts |
| Elena Skrynnik is appointed agriculture minister | Dmitry Medvedev, Alexey Gordeyev |
| The new minister will continue the course of the predecessor in general |
| Dmitry Medvedev commissions Rostekhnologii to be customer for construction of 12 federal centers of high medical technologies | Sergey Chemezov | Elvira Nabiullina | Economy ministry will try to gain back the lost positions |
| Boris Yevstratikov is appointed chief of the federal reserves agency | Vladimir Putin, Nikolay Patrushev |
| The new head will be as non-public figure as his predecessor |
| Rosprirodnadzor’s deputy head Ivan Klemenkov resigns | Oleg Mitvol, Yury Trutnev, Igor Sechin | Vladimir Kirillov | Mitvol will become more active on the media field |
| Transportation minister Igor Levitin says he has proposed Aeroflot head Valery Okulov to become his deputy | Igor Sechin, Sergey Chemezov | Alexander Voloshin, Valery Okulov
| The Family group will sharply decrease their activity |
| Amendments to the Civil Procedure Code broadening participation of prosecutors in civil process are passed | Yury Chaika
|
| Prosecutors will become ‘free lawyers’ for citizens |
Volume: 12 pages
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