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Main page > Comments > Politics > Awaiting surprises
Awaiting surprises
It is whispered that Vladimir Putin is about to step down as prime minister and become Duma chairman.
The United Russia convention opening later today may become as sensational as the previous one when Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accepted chairmanship in the ruling party. Since Putin accepted chairmanship without even being United Russia member, some observers expect that he will formalize his membership in the party at this convention. Some lawmakers even suggest that Putin will step down as the premier (no great loss, considering the economic crisis under way) to become Duma chairman. Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of United Russia, revealed agenda of the convention, yesterday. President Dmitry Medvedev is expected at the convention, Gryzlov said, and Putin will make a report on realization of the Strategy'2020 plan. Some changes in the charter are expected as well. The ruling party intends to introduce six-month candidacy for membership-seekers and make payment of party fees optional.
Changes in the Supreme Council composition are probably the only issue on the agenda that promise at least some intrigue. LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky was the first to draw attention to it, and Zhirinovsky is known as the man the Kremlin uses as a mouthpiece to air some particularly disputable ideas and gauge society's reaction to them. LDPR leader appraised Putin's resignation as a distinct possibility and ascribed it to the presidential initiatives concerning amendment of the Constitution (annual reports of the Cabinet to the parliament and other measures strengthening the legislative branch of the government).
"Being prime minister when the national economy is splitting along the seams is risky indeed," Ilya Ponomarev of the Fair Russia faction observed and suggested that premiership would be offered to Senior Deputy Premier Igor Shuvalov. According to Ponomarev, United Russia will suggest at the convention prosecution of Cabinet members for inadequate implementation of the anti-crisis program.
United
A government functionary declined comments on the speculations, yesterday. CEO of the National Energy Security Fund
"Making decisions nobody expects is typical of Putin," political scientist Dmitry Badovsky commented. "No wonder everyone is expecting something extraordinary from the convention."
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