Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday newly-appointed prime minister Viktor Zubkov might be a contender for next head of state if he performs well in his new job. Putin confounded expectations by naming the virtually-unknown Zubkov, a 65-year-old financial regulator, to be head of government. Parliament confirmed Zubkov's appointment on Friday.
Observers had expected the job to go to one of the heavyweights jockeying for months to succeed Putin. But Zubkov's appointment sparked speculation that it could lead to him becoming a low-key caretaker president, under whom Putin would retain political influence - later making a return to the Kremlin.
"Zubkov ideally fits the profile of the successor that would best accommodate Putin's stated and implied ambitions," said Chris Weafer, chief strategist at Russian brokerage Uralsib. Lawmakers in the 450-seat State Duma voted by 381 to 47 to confirm Zubkov, an old Putin acquaintance who has barely shown any political ambitions in the past.
Putin, speaking in the southern city of Sochi, was careful not to give any indication he was endorsing Zubkov for the presidency, saying he was a possible out of five realistic candidates. He called him "a true professional and a marvellous administrator." Referring to a comment Zubkov made after his nomination, Putin said in televised remarks: "He said he does not rule out running (for the presidency)."
"I think that was a calm and balanced answer. Now it is hard to see. He still has to work, in a pretty difficult period, and we have to get the ... (parliamentary) elections out the way. Then we will see."
"A year or a year and a half ago people said the field is empty and there is no one to choose from. Now people name at least five people who can realistically stake a claim to being elected as president of Russia in March 2008," Putin added.
SUCCESSION RIDDLE: Putin must step down next year because under the constitution he can only serve two consecutive terms in office. He can return in 2012 after his successor has served a term, or sooner if the next president quits.
Putin has said that when the time is right he will indicate who he endorses as his replacement. His huge popularity means that person is almost assured of victory in the March 2008 presidential election.
Some observers say Zubkov could be an ideal caretaker president who would stay loyal to Putin and conveniently step aside, allowing Putin to return to the Kremlin at a later date. "At seventy years (as he will be in 2012), he would be most unlikely to want to push for a second term and, should circumstances warrant it, he would be more likely to accommodate Putin's earlier return than might others," Weafer said.
Answering lawmakers' questions before the vote in parliament - a chamber dominated by Kremlin loyalists - Zubkov said he would stick to the policies set out by Putin. "I believe our priorities should be the strategic targets and programmes of concrete actions set out in the president's state of the nation addresses in the past few years," he said. Putin later issued a decree on Zubkov's appointment. Under the constitution, Zubkov now has one week to submit his proposals for a new government to Putin.
Most observers expect a reshuffle. Zubkov signalled on Friday unpopular Health and Social Affairs Minister Mikhail Zurabov could be a casualty. Analysts predict that reformist Economy Minister German Gref could also be dropped. Markets were focusing most attention on the fate of Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, who is credited with bringing Russia's finances back to robust health.
Comments
Comments are closed.