Putin's successor named

[Vympel]

Link

Putin sees Medvedev as successor

Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed First Deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev as presidential candidate to replace him next year, Russian media report.

"I fully support this candidacy," Mr Putin was quoted as saying.

Mr Medvedev was nominated by Mr Putin's United Russia Party, along with three other pro-Kremlin parties, on Monday.

Mr Medvedev was previously Mr Putin's chief of staff and is chairman of the gas giant Gazprom. He hails from Mr Putin's native St Petersburg.

The 42-year-old former lawyer managed Mr Putin's election campaign in 2000. As first deputy prime minister he has overseen national programmes in the areas of health, housing and education.

He has long been a significant player in Mr Putin's group of close associates from St Petersburg.

The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says the overwhelming support for Mr Putin in Russia makes Mr Medvedev likely to win the presidential election next March, once his nomination is made official.

Fellow first deputy prime minister Sergei Ivanov had also been seen as a strong potential presidential candidate.

Under Russia's political system the president enjoys far-reaching powers, including the appointment of regional governors.

Earlier this month United Russia won the parliamentary election by a wide margin and Putin supporters will dominate the new parliament.

Mr Putin has made it clear he will retain a significant national leadership role after he leaves office at the end of his second term.

42 years old? Pretty young. Just a chair-warmer for Putin.

[Sidewinder]

42 years old? Pretty young. Just a chair-warmer for Putin.

I believe Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he became president, and he's remembered as one of America's great presidents, so 42 might not be too young for Medvedev. However, his Wikipedia article does NOT suggest he has significant experience in governing, so I'm somewhat cautious regarding his nomination. (Yes, I'm aware of rumors that Medvedev's just a figurehead for Putin to continue ruling Russia; I have right-wing American publications to thank for that.)

Here's hoping Russia gets a competent President; I don't think anyone in the US wants to let more economic aid to that nation be wasted on the oligarchs' palaces.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I believe Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he became president, and he's remembered as one of America's great presidents, so 42 might not be too young for Medvedev. However, his Wikipedia article does NOT suggest he has significant experience in governing, so I'm somewhat cautious regarding his nomination. (Yes, I'm aware of rumors that Medvedev's just a figurehead for Putin to continue ruling Russia; I have right-wing American publications to thank for that.)

Here's hoping Russia gets a competent President; I don't think anyone in the US wants to let more economic aid to that nation be wasted on the oligarchs' palaces.

You mean the next president will even get the chance to call the shots? With Putin as Prime Minister?

[Ghost Rider]

42 years old? Pretty young. Just a chair-warmer for Putin.

I believe Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he became president, and he's remembered as one of America's great presidents, so 42 might not be too young for Medvedev. However, his Wikipedia article does NOT suggest he has significant experience in governing, so I'm somewhat cautious regarding his nomination. (Yes, I'm aware of rumors that Medvedev's just a figurehead for Putin to continue ruling Russia; I have right-wing American publications to thank for that.)

Here's hoping Russia gets a competent President; I don't think anyone in the US wants to let more economic aid to that nation be wasted on the oligarchs' palaces.

So wait, you're saying because he's the age of Theodore Roosevelt, it conflicts with the fact that age is rather young?

I mean your next part is you saying that he might or might not be just a Putin figurehead and hope he's not even though he has some rather deep ties with Putin?

Do you read the article in question or do you look at the comments are fire one off to get a post count boost?

[Sidewinder]

So wait, you're saying because he's the age of Theodore Roosevelt, it conflicts with the fact that age is rather young?

No, I'm saying that a young age does not necessarily suggest a certain person will be a poor political leader.

I mean your next part is you saying that he might or might not be just a Putin figurehead and hope he's not even though he has some rather deep ties with Putin?

I'm just repeating a line from an article I read in a magazine, and wondering if that line is accurate or if it's just more of the "Grrrr! Putin bad! Un-democratize Russia!" propaganda I keep reading about in American right-wing publications.

[CaptainChewbacca]

To be fair, Theodor Roosevelt was a crazy bastard when he was president. I don't think this new guy is bastard enough.

[Guardsman Bass]

The New York Times article suggests that the guy is basically a stooge for Putin. It even quotes as follows:

Mr. Medvedev has never run for any office, and owes almost his entire career to Mr. Putin, who first hired him to work in the city government of St. Petersburg in the early 1990s. Unlike Mr. Putin and many top officials in the Kremlin, Mr. Medvedev appears to have no background in the K.G.B.; its successor, the F.S.B.; or other state security agencies.

. . ..

“All Medvedev has is that he is a creature of Putin,” said Nikolai Zlobin, a former professor at Moscow State University who is a fellow at the World Security Institute in Washington. “Everything that Medvedev has is owed to Putin. There is no Medvedev without Putin.”

Who knows, though? Maybe he'll turn out to be Russia's equivalent to Lazaro Cardenas, although I doubt it.

[Mange]

From what I've heard, he is more liberal than Putin and is the "softer" choice for president. At this point I say rather Dmitri Medvedev than Sergei Ivanov.

[K. A. Pital]

From what I've heard, he is more liberal than Putin and is the "softer" choice for president.

Liberal? "Softer"? He's just another Putin's hack. These people (who circulate around Putin) show no traits of their personality as if they were androids.

And it doesn't matter anyway what kind of personality Medvedev has, quite possibly (for better or worse) Putin will be controlling everything through the Parliament and a shadow hand over his trusty preemnik Medvedev.

[Mange]

From what I've heard, he is more liberal than Putin and is the "softer" choice for president.

Liberal? "Softer"? He's just another Putin's hack. These people (who circulate around Putin) show no traits of their personality as if they were androids.

And it doesn't matter anyway what kind of personality Medvedev has, quite possibly (for better or worse) Putin will be controlling everything through the Parliament and a shadow hand over his trusty preemnik Medvedev.

Of course he's a stooge, but we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? I hope he won't just keep the chair warm for Putin...

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Of course he's a stooge, but we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? I hope he won't just keep the chair warm for Putin...

He would sooner find a constitutional amendment making the presidency a figurehead and Putin finds away to unlimited term in office anyway.

[K. A. Pital]

He would sooner find a constitutional amendment making the presidency a figurehead

He can't do that if he goes down. He has to do that now if he wants to. Since Yeltsin shot the Parliament, I think the laws make it impossible to destroy the superpresidency unless your Parliament amends the Constitution while you're the President, and you agree.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

He would sooner find a constitutional amendment making the presidency a figurehead

He can't do that if he goes down. He has to do that now if he wants to. Since Yeltsin shot the Parliament, I think the laws make it impossible to destroy the superpresidency unless your Parliament amends the Constitution while you're the President, and you agree.

What's so what's in store next? I won't be surprised Putin is doing everything to shore up his power, judging from past patterns.

[Netko]

He would sooner find a constitutional amendment making the presidency a figurehead

He can't do that if he goes down. He has to do that now if he wants to. Since Yeltsin shot the Parliament, I think the laws make it impossible to destroy the superpresidency unless your Parliament amends the Constitution while you're the President, and you agree.

Well, if the next president is a stooge as you say, there really isn't a problem, no? And it looks better that way...

[CaptainChewbacca]

Well, if the Russia-Belrus union happens, he can write a new constitution himself and then make Parliament ratify it.

[K. A. Pital]

Your Friendly Neighbor - the Brand New Leader

[aerius]

At least he has good taste in music. According to various sources on the net, he's a fan of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple, and he plays all his music on vinyl records instead of CDs. He can't be all bad.

[The Grim Squeaker]

At least he has good taste in music. According to various sources on the net, he's a fan of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple, and he plays all his music on vinyl records instead of CDs. He can't be all bad.

Ah, and old fashioned decadent who seeks to study the West. So he can destroy it.

In addition:

I don't think this new guy is bastard enough.

Probably, although the projected image of him being a nice guy may be done purposefully, and underneath that he might be a man of steel, ready to boot out all his competitors and to take control.
OR he might be exactly the type of servile bootlicker Putin would appoint to the job that requires someone subservient to himself.
Guess we"ll just have to wait and see.