Russia's President Medvedev

[August1991]

President Vladimir Putin ended years of suspense Monday by naming a longtime aide, Dmitri Medvedev, as his chosen candidate to succeed him in presidential elections slated for March 2.

"I have known him very closely for more than 17 years and I completely and fully support [his candidacy]," Mr. Putin said at a meeting with leaders of four pro-Kremlin parties, including the giant United Russia, which is expected to endorse him at its convention next week.

Putin has repeatedly insisted that he will step down, as Russia's Constitution requires, when his second term expires early next year. Surveys have indicated that up to 40 percent of Russians are ready to vote for any candidate the ultrapopular Kremlin leader nominates, and experts say Mr. Medvedev's ratings are likely to skyrocket once the state-run media begins to seriously promote him.

But nothing appears settled about Putin's own future, and the choice of a weak and politically dependent successor such as Medvedev suggests that Putin may be planning to wield power from behind the scenes.

CSM

First, Putin has had no choice but to imply that he will remain in power. As soon as he admits that he is resigning, he becomes a lame duck and useless. Only in civilized states can power reside between men.

Second, Putin himself was perceived as weak, dependent and minor and unknown when he assumed power. He acquitted himself well.

Third, Medvedev has no background in the FSB.

Fourth, Medvedev is young. At 42, he was 26 when Gorbachev was kidnapped and the Soviet Union dissolved. He was 20 in 1985 when the Soviet Union first changed. He's also from St-Petersburg.

Fifth, Putin has made it plain that he will hang around. Yeltsin did the same.

Sixth, this is only the second time in Russia's long history that power has voluntarily passed bewteen living men. Boris Yeltsin was Russia's First President and he first established the tradition of giving up power. Putin has followed this tradition, respecting the written constitution.

Seventh, Yeltsin anointed Putin. Putin has anointed Medvedev. Russia will only be truly a civilized and stable democracy when no one knows who will be president - but everyone knows there'll be one. The US has managed this for centuries and 2000 is evident proof that the US is a civilized and stable country. Russia is still not. Russia is turning into a 20th century Mexico.

Edited December 11, 2007 by August1991

[marcinmoka]

Bingo, at least my predictions have come true.

In that respect, Medvedev has many *qualities*.

1. He is a competent manager.

2. He provides a somewhat amiable face for foreign investors and politicos alike.

3. He seems far more easily influenced, if not controllable by Putin & Co.

4. He is not as antagonistic as Ivanov.

Russia will only be truly a civilized and stable democracy when no one knows who will be president - but everyone knows there'll be one.

Granted, but if we apply this standard to Canada????

*Not that I am claiming, by any stretch of the imagination, that Russia is in fact a democracy*

Edited December 11, 2007 by marcinmoka

[Maxim]

Bingo, at least my predictions have come true.

In that respect, Medvedev has many *qualities*.

1. He is a competent manager.

2. He provides a somewhat amiable face for foreign investors and politicos alike.

3. He seems far more easily influenced, if not controllable by Putin & Co.

4. He is not as antagonistic as Ivanov.

Granted, but if we apply this standard to Canada????

*Not that I am claiming, by any stretch of the imagination, that Russia is in fact a democracy*

1. Really? What did he "competently" manage?

2. That's for sure. Putin shows his puppet to the West to demonstrate to the public how soft and "democratic" he is. What a joke!

3. Wrong. He's completely influenced by Putin & Co. Since Putin service in St.Petersburg, till now. Medvedev is Putin's clerk, no more, no less.

4. It doesn't matter. If this guy could be appointed to presidency (not "elected" of course, there's no such thing for Putin's regime and last "election" farce has proven it), then Putin will still rule as prime minister. Mr. Medvedev already insisted that Putin would take a PM chair, because he couldn't imagine this country without preserving "Putin's team" and Putin as a "national leader". With fixed overwhelming majority of Putin's party in the house of representatives, it's just a matter of time to make Russia a parliamentary republic with very limited presidential role.

But all the above doesn't really matter. Clock is ticking. Russia will be free and democratic pretty soon.

[marcinmoka]

1. Really? What did he "competently" manage?

A. Gazprom,

B. Re-shaping the Russian economy thereby softening the blow of transition for the common population

C. Putin's campaign

2. That's for sure. Putin shows his puppet to the West to demonstrate to the public how soft and "democratic" he is. What a joke!

Yes, are you surprised. What did you expect? Let me remind you of an old diplomatic maxim:

"Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell in such a manner that they look forward to their journey"

3. Wrong. He's completely influenced by Putin & Co. Since Putin service in St.Petersburg, till now. Medvedev is Putin's clerk, no more, no less.

Wrong? Maybe you should actually read my post prior to jumping to conclusions. This is exactly what I said, and yet you claim it's wrong.

4. It doesn't matter

This is probably the most absurd statement of them all. It does matter. The reason Putin chose someone as complacent as Medvedev is because of the aforementioned reasons #1 & #2, that Medvedev will play by Putin's rules but without engaging in the antagonistic rhetoric so common amongst the old guard of the security establishment. Russia has severely tarnished it's image in the eyes of the west, but it also knows it can afford to do so no more or else it runs the risk of more severe consequences, i.e the abandonment of foreign investors and accession to the WTO. That is why they chose someone who is far more pro-business.

But all the above doesn't really matter. Clock is ticking. Russia will be free and democratic pretty soon.

And your rationale?

[Maxim]

Medvedev is a little Jewish lawer, who always served well Putin & Co (he's only 5' tall and with only 99lb of weight). He helped Putin with the laundering of budgetary funds in St.Petersburg. He helped Putin to transfer Gazprom shares from Chernomyrdin's and Vyakhirev's pockets to Putin's one. He helped with making the dirty "election" happened. And so on. Now Mr Putin's appointing his secretary for a president.

But this guy'll never be the ruler of Russia. And it's not because the west would dislike Mr Medvedev

Russia faces major and dramatic changes in the next couple of years (for the best of Russians at the end). Watch closely.

Edited December 13, 2007 by Maxim