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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (4) 692 Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (4) 692January 14 - 20, 2008 Main political trends of the weekLast week mass media resumed discussion of reforms, however, this term was often substituted by a less “annoying” for the people “modernization.” Presidential successor Dmitry Medvedev said the pension system had to be upgraded. Currently, there are three main weak spots in the Russian social area – pension system, healthcare and housing. Reformation of all three may cost the people a great deal. It is possible that in order to minimize the costs the Kremlin will once again make businesses loosen their purse-strings. The competition for State Duma posts is over. As expected, after the appointment of the heads of committees, Duma players began to fight for first deputy posts that provide almost equal lobby opportunities. This process revealed that many candidates that failed to become committee heads took revenge becoming first deputy heads. In the mean time, lobby power of specific committees changed significantly. Despite relatively peaceful division of the State Duma, its factions continued competing. In particular, A Just Russia suggested that all “sane” leftist forces must and inevitably will unite under JR’s auspices. Although this is a Sergei Mironov’s initiative it is possible that this time it is not just another attention-seeking statement but rather announcement of a “max plan.” It is quite possible that this project will be put on rails this year and authorities will need to deal with protests. In the mean time Kremlin-disloyal rightist opposition is decomposing. The refusal of famous persons – Lyudmila Alekseyeva and Georgiy Satarov – to chair the National Civil Congress proved that disloyal opposition was in crisis, the first signs of which emerged back in May 2007. Sergei Ivanov returned to headlines after a long hiatus – this time in relation to his direct duty (control of industry and military sector). His address to the Russians asking to cast a vote in the presidential election may be seen exclusively as an attempt to remind of himself and of the fact that he is not just a “technical” official but also a political player. It could be possible to look at the government meeting on nanotechnologies in the context of Ivanov’s comeback, however, the nanotechnologies theme was used by mass media without any reference to Ivanov but rather to Viktor Zubkov. So, presumably the Kremlin’s security officials clan (or siloviki) is gradually trying to recover from the defeat in December an find new spots to counterattack. Continuation of the “Storchak’s case” supports this idea. Last week it was informed that the arrested deputy minister of finance had been replaced by a head of a Finance Ministry’s department Dmitry Pankin. De facto this means that Aleksey Kudrin admitted his tactical defeat in the fight for his deputy. Major events Jan 14, 2008 - Jan 20, 2008
Volume: 15 pages If you are interested to obtain please contact » Elena Kim Other issues: |
Special report:Nord Stream 2 and Ukraine: Costs Should DecideShale Revolution: Myths and RealitiesLiquefied Natural Gas Outlook: Expectations and RealityAnalytical series “The Political compass”:Political power in Russia after presidential electionState Corporations in the Russian EconomyPolitical Results of 2007: Russia on the Eve of Power ShufflePolitical Landscape Ahead of the Parliamentary Election 2007«Centers of influence» in the Russian politicsLeading Russian corporations and the executive power: interaction methodsForecast of political developments after the presidential election in 2008 |
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