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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (44) 732
Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (44) 732
October 20-26, 2008
Main tendencies of political week
Economic issues continued prevailing the last week agenda due to Russia’s involvement in negative processes occurring in the world. At the same time operative management of economic problems was getting more and more concentrated in Dmitry Medvedev’s hands, who had created the council for financial system development. This body could become another consultative entity of the president, if it did not include the FSB director and interior minister. It seems Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin shared the roles again considering the latest developments. The PM acts as the leader of optimists, who do not notice problems in the economy and insist on retaining the status quo, while the president expresses cautious concern about the developments. At the same time both tandem members show community of the fundamental assessment of the situation.
Economic problems started influencing the domestic politics more noticeably, including staff struggle. Last week deputy finance minister Sergey Storchak was released from custody at the initiative of the Investigation Committee. The formal reason for this was the completion of investigation of his case. However, the real reason is the worsening of the situation with debts of Russian companies. There is a serious danger that the assets of the raw materials sector may be obtained by western creditors following margin calls; thus, a necessity in Storchak as specialist in settling debts emerged. In its turn this strengthened positions of finance minister Alexey Kudrin, whose conservative financial policies provided for the accumulation of reserves for a rainy day.
Last week attempts to artificially start the wave of protests organized by the non-systemic opposition failed: actions in practically all cities attracted few people representing mainly ultra-left and ultra-liberal organizations. It seems that under the conditions of ‘soft landing’ of the economy and social sphere the population is not ready to participate in protests and prefers individual strategies of adapting to the situation not resorting to radical actions.
Major events October 20 - October 26, 2008
| Event | Winning side | Defeated side | Development Outlooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creation of the president’s council for developing financial system | Dmitry Medvedev | President will head the working out of measures aimed at improving the situation in economy | |
| Change in restraint for deputy finance minister Sergey Storchak | Alexey Kudrin | Sharpening of relations between the finance ministry and Vnesheconombank is possible | |
| New distribution of duties between deputy PMs is approved | Dmitry Kozak | Igor Shuvalov, Alexander Zhukov | Kozak will get additional authority on supervising regions |
| Information is posted that the institution of warrant officers will be disbanded within the next year | The majority of warrant officers will become sergeants, so there will be no massive retirement of warrant officers | ||
| Preparation of the government’s decree on the rules of conducting anti-graft examination of regulatory and legal acts is completed | Justice Ministry | Public Chamber | PC will attempt to get part of authority of anti-graft examination of legislation |
| Deputy economy minister Igor Manylov says the single state body for registering real estate will be created as a result of unification of the Federal Registration Service, Federal Agency for Registering Real Estate and Federal Agency of Geodesy and Cartography | Ministry of Economic Development | Federal Agency for Managing State Property (FAUGI) | FAUGI head Yury Petrov will try to get part of authority of the disbanded entities |
| Gennady Sklyar is replaced with Alexey Malinin as RTRS head | Gennady Sklyar | Malinin will speed up the process of transfer of domestic television to digital format | |
| Mikhail Shvydkoy replaces Vladimir Pozner as president of the Russian Television Academy | Mikhail Shvydkoy | Conflict between the academy and federal channels will be settled | |
| Patriots of Russia and the Party of Peace and Unity declare about their intention to unite | This merger will not bring dividends to its participants | ||
| Vladlen Maximov, head of the Moscow city branch of SPS, declares about the branch’s intention to continue independent operations after the party’s liquidation | De jure the branch will be dissolved |
Volume: 15 pages
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The study attempts to list the main centers of influence and show their hierarchy from the standpoint of availability of resources. Special attention is drawn to formal and informal channels of interaction between elite clans, the “conflict zones,” and the clans’ methods of promoting their interests. The study also attempts to predict developments in the short- and medium-term future.Leading Russian corporations and the executive power: interaction methods
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