Date:11/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/11/stories/2007121156261600.htm

International

Vladimir Putin names a liberal as his successor

Vladimir Radyuhin

Deputy Premier Medvedev widely believed to be business-friendly

— Photo: AP

PRESIDENT’S CHOICE: Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in this recent photo.

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to succeed him at presidential elections scheduled for next March.

Mr. Putin, who is barred by the Constitution from running for a third consecutive term in the March 2 election, said he “completely and fully” supported a proposal by four parties to nominate Mr. Medvedev.

Mr. Medvedev’s nomination was proposed by United Russia and three other pro-Kremlin parties at a meeting of their leaders with Mr. Putin on Monday.

Mr. Putin said his choice of Mr. Medvedev would ensure “firm authority in the Russian Federation after the March elections of 2008, and not just firm authority, but one that will carry out the course that has brought positive results over the last eight years.”

Close associate

Mr. Medvedev, a 42-year-old law expert, has been one of Mr. Putin’s closest associates since both worked in St. Petersburg mayor’s office in the early 1990s.

Mr. Medvedev moved to Moscow with Mr. Putin, working up his way to the key position of Head of the Presidential Administration in 2003.

Two years ago he was appointed First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of key national projects to upgrade housing, education, and health care.

The nomination signals the victory of the so-called liberal clan in the Kremlin that has been vying for power with the so-called “siloviki”, a group of senior security officers led by Mr. Putin’s aide Igor Sechin.

Mr. Putin has supported Mr. Medvedev over another First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Mr. Ivanov is famous for his harsh criticism of the West for NATO expansion and military build-up near Russian borders.

Russian markets surged to record levels on the news of Mr. Medvedev’s nomination.

Mr. Medvedev is also chairman of the natural gas monopoly Gazprom and is widely believed to be business-friendly.

The Putin-Medvedev tandem is likely to continue after the presidential election.

Mr. Putin has said he will not leave politics, and Mr. Medvedev will have to rely on Mr. Putin’s support because he does not have a power base of his own.

Mr. Medvedev will be formally nominated on December 17 when United Russia holds its congress in Moscow.