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Medvedev says might not object to Putin job swap

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  • Medvedev says might not object to Putin job swap

    Medvedev says might not object to Putin job swap

    (AFP) – 1 hour ago

    PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — President Dmitry Medvedev said he might not object to swapping jobs with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, as the ruling duo kept Russia guessing about their plans.

    Asked during a meeting with American students at the University of Pittsburgh whether he was prepared to exchange places with his powerful mentor Putin, Medvedev said he wouldn't mind as long as he could be helpful.

    "If it is useful for the country, I am ready to work in any position," he said.

    "The job of a president is a rather difficult thing. I can also tell you that the job of a prime minister is also a difficult thing. So there's not much difference in this sense."

    Medvedev nevertheless reiterated that he would not rule out running for re-election as president, despite speculation that Putin may want to return to the Kremlin post he held before stepping down in favor of his ally.

    "If I work well, if everything I do turns out fine, if the Russian people trusts me, why not run? This is absolutely normal."

    Medvedev noted he had never had "abnormal presidential ambitions" and in a telltale turn of phrase said he had been "offered" the post of the president, rather than been given a chance to run for office.

    "When life ruled in such a way that I was offered a relevant position, when an election campaign started I realized that you have to do this seriously, otherwise you won't simply have success."

    Putin was barred by the constitution from running for a third consecutive term and had to step down, installing Medvedev at the Kremlin.

    Analysts are closely watching Russia's ruling tandem for any signs of possible discord and some wonder whether Medvedev is willing to break out from Putin's embrace and strike out on his own.

    In the biggest hint so far that he may come back to the Kremlin, Putin said earlier this month he and Medvedev would not compete in the 2012 election but would "come to an agreement" as they were people of "the same blood."

    Many observers believe Putin is the country's real chief and that Medvedev is acting as a seat warmer for Putin.
    AFP: Medvedev says might not object to Putin job swap
    “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

  • #2
    ....and Russia takes another step away from Democracy.
    You know JJ, Him could do it....

    Comment


    • #3
      This Newsweek commentry does not have much hope in Medvedev leading a Russia recovery.

      Russia’s Tragic Hero: Why Dmitry Medvedev will fail.
      25 Sept [Newsweek] It's hard to see Dmitry Medvedev as a tragic figure. Russia's president is, at least in theory, one of the world's most powerful men. His demeanor is cheerful; his speeches are refreshingly liberal and increasingly bold in criticizing the new Russian state. But his vision will go nowhere as long as his predecessor, Vladimir Putin, remains the real power in the land.

      Consider Medvedev's latest proposals. Published earlier this month on the president's personal blog, the manifesto calls for overhauling Russia's "terrible" and "dysfunctional" economy by weaning it away from its dependence on energy and metals. Medvedev wants to close down unproductive single-industry towns that churn out products no one wants, to create a new tech sector and to invest more in education, to cut bureaucracy, and to encourage Russians to start small businesses, which have been crushed by bribe-taking and regulation. .....

      It all sounds good. But it was all undermined by the fact that, just one day before the blog post appeared, Putin strongly hinted that he intends to return to the presidency at the next election in 2012. "[Medvedev and I] will make that decision together," Putin said. "We are of one blood." In the coded language of modern Russian politics, the message—that Medvedev is little more than a temporary stand-in—was loud and clear.

      Putin's return will undermine all of Medvedev's radical proposals, from his economic ideas to his earlier plan to reform Russia's rotten justice and law-enforcement systems. That's because many of Russia's problems today are of Putin's own making.

      During his two terms in office, Russia's bureaucracy doubled in size, while according to Transparency International, the size of the "bribe economy" increased 10-fold. The bureaucracy became the business elite as the state—from the Kremlin to provincial governors and even local policemen—swallowed up private businesses.

      Today business rivals regularly use state power to put opponents in jail. They conjure up crippling tax raids and steal whole businesses with the connivance of local authorities. This makes it almost impossible for Russian businesses to compete internationally or attract outside investment, since there's no guarantee that your business won't be stolen. The only way to survive is to be big and connected—creating bloated, inefficient business empires.

      Medvedev alone would not fix all these problems. He may have radical ideas, but he is a consummate insider, chosen by Putin precisely because he posed no threat to Putin's eventual return. Still, Medvedev is more than a front for Putin; even many critics consider his prescription for Russia's ills spot on. What he lacks is clout. His anti-corruption campaign has not led to the sacking of even one high-profile Putin appointee. His demand that bureaucrats make their incomes and assets public produced laughably understated declarations, which only reinforced the idea that Medvedev lacks the power to take on the old guard.

      Russia's economy is like a leaky bucket—it seems full because of the amount of free money gushing in, mostly from oil and gas. In fact, Russia falls far behind the rest of the developed world on almost every competitiveness, productivity, and production index.

      At the beginning of Putin's rule in 2000, Russia stood 55th on the World Economic Forum's index of global competitiveness; by 2009, after a decade of stability and prosperity and vast oil windfalls, it had dropped to 63rd. On legal protection for investors and property rights, Russia under Putin slipped 20 places, to 116th. Small wonder that while Europe and the U.S. are now starting to post signs of GDP growth, Russia has had to revise its forecasts down, and it now expects GDP to fall 8.5 percent this year. ....

      Comment


      • #4
        Absurd question on the journalist part.

        Hey Med, if Putin wants your position would you give it to him?
        夫唯不爭,故天下莫能與之爭。

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        • #5
          I don't think its fair to criticize Putin for the fattening of entrenched interests. If we really want to trace this back, the start of this process should logically lead to Yeltsin & the collapse of the USSR. Oligarchs ran the country by the time Putin took over & that won't change any time fast no matter who was/is in charge.

          Of course, few in the western press would actually put the blame where it really belongs, since that incompetent drunkard was in favor of "democracy" (translation - the West).

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Rumrunner View Post
            ....and Russia takes another step away from Democracy.
            Yes.

            But the Russians are still stuck in between a dictatorship and full-blown democracy.

            Nebula82.

            Comment


            • #7
              Medved looks like a hostage trying to scream for help with mouth gagged. Still he's no better than Uncle Pu. Medveput we call them here.
              We're so bad, we're even bad at it

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              • #8
                Winter is coming.

                Comment


                • #9
                  LOL that's brilliant

                  Nebula82.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Time of Augustus

                    Originally posted by nebula82 View Post
                    Yes.

                    But the Russians are still stuck in between a dictatorship and full-blown democracy.

                    Nebula82.


                    'Democracy' sounds good but where to find it? Please mention if you can!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      You can not 'find' democracy. It must be built up. The whole process usually takes centuries...
                      We're so bad, we're even bad at it

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                      • #12
                        Time of Augustus

                        Originally posted by Andrey Egorov View Post
                        You can not 'find' democracy. It must be built up. The whole process usually takes centuries...


                        My question was not HOW but WHERE, may be you understand?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Surely I understand. You asked about some example. The truth is every country has democracy of its own. Common things are free elections, free press, etc. Freedom is the key. Freedom to defend your property for instance.
                          We're so bad, we're even bad at it

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            You guys have established universal suffrage,what else do you want?

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Luke Gu View Post
                              You guys have established universal suffrage,what else do you want?
                              Maybe to elect the ones who we want to elect?
                              We're so bad, we're even bad at it

                              Comment

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