No Place Left for Medvedev

Featured at JRL 2011-92-3
No Place Left for Medvedev - By Nikolai Petrov - Moscow Times -  May 24, 2011 
Nikolai Petrov is a scholar in residence at the Carnegie Moscow Center.


Nikolai Petrov addresses some major recent sign-posts in Russia politics in anticipation of Duma and presidential elections, such as Medvedev and Putin maneuvering with major statements; billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov leading the Right Cause party; and the Congress of Russian Communities registering as a nationalist public association without party affiliation.

Meanwhile, Sergei Mironov, A Just Russia's former leader, has been removed as Speaker of the Federation Council.

Petro argues that all the sudden activity was induced by public apathy over next year's presidential election, while Putin nevertheless wants ways to sustain his own power :

"... the fact is that Putin has given no signs of planning to leave power. In any system built on the personal authority of a single individual, the leader only makes an unexpected departure as a result of a revolution or coup d'etat."

Petro argues that, while the wealthy would like to divvy up wealth generated by oil prices, reforms will still proceed. But, he argues, the tandem has out-lived its usefulness, after using it to enhance Russia's image at least somewhat; Putin might prefer to dump Medvedev in favor of another, such as Chubais or Kudrin, among a list of four names.

Petro envisions Putin returning to the presidency, and getting rid of Medvedev entirely after allowing some reforms to occur with the blame going to Medvedev ...

To read more, click here: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/no-place-left-for-medvedev/437332.html