Putin has a sky-high popularity rating, and a network of allies in government who are likely to retain key posts after the handover. Medvedev, by contrast, has spent his political career in Putin’s shadow.

“Medvedev does not have his own team, his own people. He doesn’t have his own bureaucrats or businessmen on which he can rely,” said a source with links to the Kremlin.

“He can rely only on Putin, therefore he has no choice but to do as he is told.”

Putin has also been quietly beefing up prime ministerial powers. One example: he issued a decree on April 28 ordering regional governors to submit annual reports on their performance to the government. Previously, they were filed to the Kremlin.

“(There is a) process of ‘soft’ redistribution of power between the president and the prime minister,” Russia’s Center for Current Politics wrote in a research note.

“For the first time in the history of post-Soviet Russia, the prime minister’s job is being transformed from a technical one to a real decision-making center.”

Putin is stepping down as president in line with a constitutional ban on leaders serving more than two consecutive terms. Some supporters had pressed him to seek a third term, but he has always ruled out changing the constitution to do this.

Observers say that staying on could have damaged Russia’s international standing and dented the reputation Putin cultivated at home as a leader who respects the law.

Russian officials hang the portrait of the serving president on their office walls in a mark of respect. Putin, asked by a reporter if Medvedev would adorn his prime ministerial office, said he did not feel the need.

Less clear than Putin’s power is whether he will exercise it, and if he does, for how long.

“It comes down to how that is used,” said a diplomatic source. “It is difficult to make a judgment because hard information is so scarce.”

One theory is that once Medvedev has settled in to the presidency Putin plans to step back and let his protege put his own mark on the job, perhaps by implementing liberal reforms and adopting a less abrasive approach with the West.

Others say that is wishful thinking. “Nothing will change,” said the source with Kremlin links. “Putin will remain the only effective force in the upper reaches of power.”

1|2

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 1000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email