Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (40) 676

September 24-30, 2007

Main political trends of the week

The main topic of last week was the upshot of the intrigue around the new composition of the government. Despite that the new ministers were announced on Monday, the whole essence of the transformations became clear closer to the second half of the week, when the text of decree setting the structure of federal bodies of the executive power.

The presidential decree envisages both serious redistribution of authority among offices and establishment of super offices – state committees. As a result of the authority redistribution, Regional Development Ministry and Ministry of Justice are reinforced, whereas the “liberal” wing of the government lost, although this “defeat” was set off after Aleksey Kudrin’s status was increased. The establishment of new offices in the state committees rank means that the chief idea of the administrative reform held in 2004 – distribution of functions between ministries, services, and agencies – was betrayed.

Apart from the president’s wish to show his domination in the politics, one of the main reasons for the dissolution of the Fradkov’s government was because the executive branch had been extremely heterogeneous and conflicting. However, the new government still has it – clans inside the Cabinet may conflict both over ideology (the choice between industry-specific and territorial, liberal and protectionist approaches) and over purely opportunistic issues related to the distribution of authority.

It is noteworthy that the heightened level of conflict last week was seen around other state power bodies as well. In particular, police arrested three high-rank officials of the Audit Chamber, which can be considered an echo of the struggle for the “chief anti-corruption office” status.

The authorities in charge of the preparations for the Winter Olympics 2014 were finally named. Unlike the “structures’ competition” plan that the former chief of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry had lobbied, the confirmed vertical of power envisages strict hierarchy that includes almost all officials involved in the project. The head of the hierarchy is of course President Vladimir Putin.

Tendency toward intensification of paternalism in economy has manifested. This was proved by the statements made both by the new Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and the traditionally avoiding public appearances Head of Rosoboronexport Sergei Chemezov, who is one of the most influential lobbyists in the country and belongs to the president’s circle of trust. Most likely, as a consequence of this tendency the establishment of state corporations and insertion of vast funds into them will speed up.

Last week, the parliamentary campaign came back to the foreground. Its role in the Transition 2008 project is still important, however, only its results will be decisive. So far it is only clear that the first three candidates on parties’ tickets will not have charismatic and Kremlin-critical politicians (the parties’ congresses early last week proved this). The situation around the “power’s party” should clear up after The United Russia’s congress scheduled for October 1-2.

Major events Sep 24, 2007 - Sep 30, 2007

Volume: 17 pages