Haroon Siddique and agencies
Monday December 17, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The United Russia party today voted unanimously to nominate Vladimir Putin's favoured successor, Dmitry Medvedev, as its candidate in the March 2 presidential election.
Medvedev's path to the Russian presidency was considered a formality once he had been endorsed by the president.
Earlier, Putin had said he was ready to be prime minister if Medvedev was elected.
While his desire to be prime minister had been widely anticipated, he also - more surprisingly - announced that there would be no change in the powers of the two roles.
Many expected that, with his chosen successor in place, Putin would continue to be the most powerful man in the country in all but name.
"If the citizens of Russia show trust in Dmitry Medvedev and elect him the new president, I would be ready to continue our joint work as prime minister without changing the distribution of authority between the positions," he told the United Russia congress.
Putin had previously said a victory for United Russia in parliamentary elections would give him the "moral authority" to ensure his policies were continued.
He also said Medvedev's candidacy represented "an administration that will carry on the same policies that have brought us results for the past eight years".
Analysts have suggested it is inevitable that, as prime minister, Putin would remain in charge of Russia's foreign and domestic policy and exercise decisive influence over the military and security agencies.
The prime minister is a significantly less powerful figure than the president in Russia but, on accepting the nomination, Medvedev indicated that Putin would retain a strong influence in the Kremlin.
The president's chosen successor outlined his priorities, which included strengthening the country's position in the world and preserving the Russian nation.
"All this is in Vladimir Putin's strategy," he added. "I will be guided by this strategy if I am elected president.
"But carrying out an idea can only be successful with the participation of its author. I have no doubt that in the future Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] will use all his resources, all his influence in Russia and abroad for the benefit of Russia."
The 42-year-old Medvedev - who is seen as business-friendly and not hawkish - is expected to be elected overwhelmingly on March 2 following Putin's endorsement.
The current president has approval ratings of more than 80%, and his support helped United Russia win more than two-thirds of seats in the lower house of parliament in the December 2 election. Opponents, however, claimed the vote had been rigged.
Medvedev, a first deputy prime minister, has no experience of foreign affairs. His only appearance on the international stage was at the annual economic forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos earlier this year.
He is best known abroad through his chairmanship of the state gas giant, Gazprom, and for taking an uncompromising line in negotiations with Russia's neighbours over gas prices.
When Medvedev received Putin's endorsement last week, he quickly proposed that the president become prime minister after the election.
Putin is prohibited by law from running for a third consecutive term as president, but has not ruled out a return to office at a later date.
Medvedev's path to the Russian presidency was considered a formality once he had been endorsed by the president.
Earlier, Putin had said he was ready to be prime minister if Medvedev was elected.
While his desire to be prime minister had been widely anticipated, he also - more surprisingly - announced that there would be no change in the powers of the two roles.
Many expected that, with his chosen successor in place, Putin would continue to be the most powerful man in the country in all but name.
"If the citizens of Russia show trust in Dmitry Medvedev and elect him the new president, I would be ready to continue our joint work as prime minister without changing the distribution of authority between the positions," he told the United Russia congress.
Putin had previously said a victory for United Russia in parliamentary elections would give him the "moral authority" to ensure his policies were continued.
He also said Medvedev's candidacy represented "an administration that will carry on the same policies that have brought us results for the past eight years".
Analysts have suggested it is inevitable that, as prime minister, Putin would remain in charge of Russia's foreign and domestic policy and exercise decisive influence over the military and security agencies.
The prime minister is a significantly less powerful figure than the president in Russia but, on accepting the nomination, Medvedev indicated that Putin would retain a strong influence in the Kremlin.
The president's chosen successor outlined his priorities, which included strengthening the country's position in the world and preserving the Russian nation.
"All this is in Vladimir Putin's strategy," he added. "I will be guided by this strategy if I am elected president.
"But carrying out an idea can only be successful with the participation of its author. I have no doubt that in the future Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] will use all his resources, all his influence in Russia and abroad for the benefit of Russia."
The 42-year-old Medvedev - who is seen as business-friendly and not hawkish - is expected to be elected overwhelmingly on March 2 following Putin's endorsement.
The current president has approval ratings of more than 80%, and his support helped United Russia win more than two-thirds of seats in the lower house of parliament in the December 2 election. Opponents, however, claimed the vote had been rigged.
Medvedev, a first deputy prime minister, has no experience of foreign affairs. His only appearance on the international stage was at the annual economic forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos earlier this year.
He is best known abroad through his chairmanship of the state gas giant, Gazprom, and for taking an uncompromising line in negotiations with Russia's neighbours over gas prices.
When Medvedev received Putin's endorsement last week, he quickly proposed that the president become prime minister after the election.
Putin is prohibited by law from running for a third consecutive term as president, but has not ruled out a return to office at a later date.
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