Spring Break
Russia, world watch as Medvedev succeeds Putin
Mar. 3, 2008
Alex Rodriguez - Chicago TribuneIssue date: 2/28/08 Section: MCT News
MOSCOW_With the election of Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, as Russia's new president Sunday, the country wades into uncharted waters as it reconciles the emergence of a new leader with the reluctance of its popular, czarlike ruler to fully relinquish power.
Russia's tumultuous history has always been grounded by one constant _ that czars, general secretaries and presidents never shared the helm. That is expected to change when Medvedev is inaugurated in May and names Putin his prime minister.
Putin has made it clear he will use the post of premier as a means of maintaining oversight of the country he has ruled as president for the last eight years, and the economic and geopolitical resurrection he has stewarded.
Putin has stated repeatedly that Medvedev will carry out a course for Russia that Putin's Kremlin has established, rather than any agenda for change that Medvedev might propose. For his part, Medvedev, a longtime protege of Putin's and one of his closest allies, has dutifully agreed to comply.
What unsettles many in Russia is the potential for a moment in time when Medvedev steps out of Putin's shadow and begins asserting his own leadership. How will Putin, a leader known for his unyielding style of governance, accept the necessity of stepping offstage?
"There's this feeling in Russia that, sooner or later, there will be bickering and squabbles between the two camps, and what we may end up with is paralysis of executive power," says Lilia Shevtsova, an expert on Putin's presidency and an analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center. "The Kremlin elites will not know who to obey, and whose decisions are more important."
Medvedev, 42, steps into the job without ever holding elected office before and without any power base of his own. Many Russians said they wanted Medvedev to lead the country not because he impressed them as a candidate, but because Putin told them Medvedev was his choice.
Ivan Petrov, a 51-year-old machinist from Kuzminki, a working-class neighborhood in Moscow, said he voted for Medvedev solely because "he will carry out Putin's plan. Putin ensures stability. He's brought order to our country."
Russia's tumultuous history has always been grounded by one constant _ that czars, general secretaries and presidents never shared the helm. That is expected to change when Medvedev is inaugurated in May and names Putin his prime minister.
Putin has made it clear he will use the post of premier as a means of maintaining oversight of the country he has ruled as president for the last eight years, and the economic and geopolitical resurrection he has stewarded.
Putin has stated repeatedly that Medvedev will carry out a course for Russia that Putin's Kremlin has established, rather than any agenda for change that Medvedev might propose. For his part, Medvedev, a longtime protege of Putin's and one of his closest allies, has dutifully agreed to comply.
What unsettles many in Russia is the potential for a moment in time when Medvedev steps out of Putin's shadow and begins asserting his own leadership. How will Putin, a leader known for his unyielding style of governance, accept the necessity of stepping offstage?
"There's this feeling in Russia that, sooner or later, there will be bickering and squabbles between the two camps, and what we may end up with is paralysis of executive power," says Lilia Shevtsova, an expert on Putin's presidency and an analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center. "The Kremlin elites will not know who to obey, and whose decisions are more important."
Medvedev, 42, steps into the job without ever holding elected office before and without any power base of his own. Many Russians said they wanted Medvedev to lead the country not because he impressed them as a candidate, but because Putin told them Medvedev was his choice.
Ivan Petrov, a 51-year-old machinist from Kuzminki, a working-class neighborhood in Moscow, said he voted for Medvedev solely because "he will carry out Putin's plan. Putin ensures stability. He's brought order to our country."
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