Putin might deprive Medvedev of power in regions

Mr. Putin himself established the federal districts in year 2000 as part of his bid to strengthen the federal power vertical. Now, with all the regions having been brought back into the fold, the mission can be considered completed, the current presidential administration argues.

When Dmitrii Medvedev enters the presidential post in early May, all the heads of the federal districts will be fired. To their replace will be appointed new regional leaders, not subordinated the president, but the government and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, newspaper Vedomosti reports.

The new leaders will all have the economic development of their respective districts as top priority.

The restructuring of the regional power structures is all being elaborated by the current presidential administration loyal to Vladimir Putin, and could be seen as an attempt by sitting President Putin to strengthen his power as prime minister.

Putin’s presidential administration argues that the federal districts of today will not be of need to new president Dmitrii Medvedev, as they have outplayed their function. However, at the same time, it can be no doubt that the new bodies to be established will strengthen the power basis of the new prime minister.

Mr. Medvedev might now have to base his regional power on the governors. However, also these regional leaders might now see an uncertain future. According to the plans of Minister of Regional Development Dmitrii Kozak, all the federal subjects of Russia will be placed into ten new macroeconomic zones, several of which might take over powers from the governors’ administrations.

Read also:

Regional governors - the power basis of President Medvedev BarentsObserver, 28 March 2008

Revolutionary new Russian regionalism BarentsObserver, 27 February 2008

Russia might get new super-regions BarentsObserver, 6 February 2008