Russians are facing a massive dilemma regarding the recognition of their country’s leader. President Dmitry Medvedev may be the man entrusted with the powers to take Russia forward towards economic and political superiority, yet his predecessor and the current Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is the person many consider to be having a formidable influence over the country’s administrative and political issues even after stepping down as the President. According to many political analysts, most Russians consider Vladimir Putin as the saviour of a nation which looked aimless and was heading towards complete anarchy during the turbulent years of the late Boris Yeltsin’s presidency.
Dmitry Medvedev is Vladimir Putin’s protege and the latter had personally handpicked him to be his successor and herein lies a deep-rooted problem that could potentially divide the Kremlin into two political powerbases which could collide head on in the near future engulfing Russian politics into a deep and complicated crisis. It cannot be denied that President Medvedev has inherited a safer Russia, an economically sound Russia than what it was when Prime Minister Putin took over a seemingly shattered country almost a decade ago. Many believe that having single-handedly turned around Moscow’s economic and political fortunes, Vladimir Putin has developed a superiority complex towards his love for power and that is why he took over the post of Prime Minister in order to have a close eye on Dmitry Medvedev’s running of the country.
Vladimir Putin is the real leader according to most ordinary Russians and this has created a dilemma among many bureaucrats, political figures, students, etc. According to the Moscow Times, the dilemma is so complex that government offices and institutions are hanging potraits of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin together on their walls instead of a single potrait of the current President. Well, this does not augur well for President Dmitry Medvedev. He is certainly not the only person that Russians would listen to and this could lead to a power struggle. Western diplomats feel that appointing Medvedev as the President is a well choreographed step taken by Vladimir Putin to maintain his strong grip on Russian politics. Mr.Putin will continue to have a strong decision making influence in Russia. Furthermore, the presidential administration is filled with Putin appointees and it is unlikely they will change their loyalties at this very moment.
While Medvedev is an academician, Putin is a strong figure with a KGB background. There is every chance that the two men could clash on their ways of running the country’s economy. According to the Russian constitution, the Prime Minister is in charge of the country’s economic affairs while the President looks after the foreign and defence matters. Many feel President Medvedev to be a liberal moderate who could try to bring in some reforms in the Russian economic and political scenario and which could be risky given that the reforms could affect too many powerful figures within the Kremlin unless the President in due course of time develops his own inner political circle to counter Vladimir Putin’s influence. As of now it remains to be seen how the two men work together in their quest to take Russia towards world domination by 2020.
Via: Moscow Times
Image credit: Xanthis
Comments
Russia’s recent turbulent politics has been handled poorly by Putin. Russia, now, is a country that is desperately trying to hold on to it’s position as a regional power. The conflict in Georgia and the looming American interest in the area would make both Putin and Medvedev think twice before attempting to make their personal powers felt.
The hanging of both their portraits at government offices is an amusing situation for outsiders but it only shows the nation’s dilemma.. Towards a capitalist future and a communist past. The bridge between these two eras was Putin, and maybe, just maybe, his presence is still required. Medvedev might not understand the relations between Russia and former soviet states like Putin would, for Putin has the KGB past.
For better or for worse, Putin’s presence may still be required. A country cannot jump into an uncertain future after decades of communist rule. Power changing is easy only in countries where the system has not changed. When the system changes, a person who understands both the situations well, may be required to be present.
I don’t think the two men would clash on matters of economy, for it was Putin who spear headed the capitalist ventures of Russia.
Putin has failed in situations such as Georgia and the internal Chechnya conflict. There have been grave terrorist attacks inside the Russian land and most were not dealt with efficiently. The desire to please or at least seem acceptable to the West is another factor. Considering these factors, and considering the fact that Putin is an extra ordinarily intelligent man, I don’t see why he would fight for power or prove his superiority. Probably he is trying to make sure things don’t go really out of hand?
The nascent capitalistic ventures of the nation (which made the rich richer and the poor the poorer) did help Russia stabilize it’s economy in general. Russia has too many on its hands now. From economy, internal security and conflicts, external aggression, and the ’duties’ the former soviet union has, towards countries like Serbia, Cuba.
It’s interesting to see what the future hold for Russia. I think it is an enigmatic situation where one can’t say who is wrong and who is right... Sometimes, I contradict my own opinions when it comes to Rusiia and it’s politics