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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (30) 771
Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (30) 771
July 20 - 26, 2009
Main tendencies of political week
Last week the political life was quite active despite the formal beginning of the summer lull. In particular, President Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with the UR leadership and young activists had two objectives. Firstly, this was the demonstration of consolidation of authorities during the crisis. Some observers have been advising the head of state to break up with his predecessor’s heritage and to change the course under the pretext of a difficult situation in the economy and social sphere. Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with UR was an expressive response to such advice. On one side, the presence of many young people at the meeting testifies to the fact that the idea of personnel modernization is still dominating in the head of state’s opinion, because this is a necessary premise of technological modernization.
Activities on the party field were very intensive. In particular, Pravoe Delo had the moment of truth by refusing participation in the Moscow City Duma election. This decision is a very serious defeat for PD that positioned itself both as alternative to ‘old liberals’ and to the party of power. Having been put into practically ideal conditions, the new rightists failed to reach a consensus, without which vigorous and successful political activities are impossible. The communist party was noticeably active facing a delusive danger of dissolution. Last week the communist leadership tried to clear out the situation regarding the justice ministry’s warning issued over a month ago. However, as expected, this did not bring significant results, because authorities are interested in keeping communists on the hook on the eve of possible deterioration of the social situation this autumn.
After a long break reshuffle in the government intensified, although this was likely to be temporary. In particular, two deputy ministers left the justice ministry; at different stages of their careers they used to work with Vladimir Ustinov, the former justice minister and the current presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District. However, this should not be considered to be a mop-up of the ministry of Ustinov’s team-mates, because the situation is more complicated. Deputy agriculture minister Nikolay Arkhipov also left his post; in spring after Nikolay Gordeyev’s retirement he was thought to be one of the candidates for the vacant post.
Major events July 20, 2009 - July 26, 2009
| Event | Winning side | Defeated side | Development Outlooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dmitry Medvedev meets with United Russia’s leadership and young activists | Dmitry Medvedev |
| President will keep signaling the necessity to rejuvenate government personnel |
| Dmitry Medvedev chairs a meeting of the commission for modernization and technological development | Dmitry Medvedev |
| The commission may decrease its activities when reserves to fight the crisis are depleted |
| Dmitry Medvedev says history of religions will be taught at school | Dmitry Medvedev, ROC |
| President will keep pursuing the policy of closer ties between the state and the church |
| Vladimir Putin visits the Seliger-2009 youth camp | Vladimir Putin, Vitaly Mutko, Vasily Yakemenko |
| Tandem members will demonstrate active support to young activists keen on solving economic modernization tasks |
| Pravoe Delo decides not to participate in the Moscow City Duma election |
| Pravoe Delo | The party may find itself on the political periphery |
| CPRF leaders meet with deputy justice minister Alexey Velichko | CPRF |
| Party won’t be disbanded but it will stay in limbo |
| Deputy justice ministers Vladimir Demidov and Vladimir Zubrin retire | Alexander Konovalov | Vladimir Ustinov | Konovalov will keep getting rid of his predecessor’s personnel |
| Deputy agriculture minister Nikolay Arkhipov retires | Elena Skrynnik | Viktor Zubkov | The new minister will force all high-ranking officials from the ministry that are not members of her team |
| Rumors about dismissal of federal prison service head Yury Kalinin | Alexander Konovalov | Yury Kalinin | The possibility of the official’s dismissal is high in the light of policy of rejuvenating the cadres |
| Enlarged meeting of the Prosecutor General’s Office board to draw up the H1 2009 results | Yury Chaika, Alexander Bastrykin |
| Prosecutor General’s Office and Investigation Committee will keep actively using the anti-corruption rhetoric |
Volume: 12 pages
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