Governors to be rated by government

The fight for the control over the governors appears to be in the making in Russia. As Dmitrii Medvedev takes over the post as president, and Vladimir Putin the post as premier, the power relations between the federal centre and the regions might undergo a shift.

According to newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, federal Minister of Regional Development, Dmitrii Kozak, now wants to establish a system of ratings on the governors’ efficiency level. The system, to be under the wings of the government, could give new Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enhanced power over regional affairs.

With the proposed rating system the prime minister and his government might be able to influence the policies of the governors, as the regional leaders seek approval from Moscow.

Thus, while the president keeps the formal right to appoint and dismiss the governors, the government might from now on be able to evaluate the leaders of the federal subjects. A negative rating from Putin and his men will inevitably endanger the rule of a governor and put his future in jeopardy.

President of the Centre of Political Conjuncture, Konstantin Simonov, says the new order can be seen as part of Vladimir Putin’s contruction of a federal power vertical. –We see a tendency that the governors are being linked up with the government, he says to Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

Putin might deprive Medvedev of power in regions BarentsObserver, 10 April 2008