Vladimir Putin purges cabinet of last reformers

[Marulus]

Vladimir Putin purges cabinet of last reformers

By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow

Last Updated: 25/09/2007

President Vladimir Putin has sacked his pro-Western economy minister in an important pre-election reshuffle that saw the Russian cabinet all but purged of liberal reformers.


German Gref: a strong advocate of the market

Elevating loyalists and unknowns at the expense of the few who might dare to challenge him, Mr Putin has effectively ensured that even hypothetical channels of dissent have been sealed ahead of next March's presidential election.

German Gref, the respected economy minister, was the most prominent victim of a reshuffle that was less extensive than many commentators had predicted.

A strong advocate of the market, Mr Gref's departure after seven years in the post will cause dismay, though not surprise, among Western governments and investors.
He was one of only two government officials — the other being Alexei Kudrin, the finance minister — who dared to criticize the Kremlin, though only on economic rather than political issues.

Mr Gref was replaced by Elvira Nabiullina, his deputy, who is much less likely to criticise Mr Putin.


In a move that will bring some cheer to Western businessmen, Mr Kudrin kept his seat and was even promoted to become one of Russia's five deputy prime ministers.

"The finance minister's status has been raised," Mr Putin was shown on television telling his new cabinet. "He will simultaneously carry out the functions of deputy prime minister." Despite his surprise elevation, Mr Kudrin faces isolation in a cabinet now totally dominated by loyalists who enthusiastically backed Mr Putin's decision to abandon serious market reforms.

His only other ideological soul mate, Mikhail Zurabov, the health minister, was dismissed in a move seen as punishment for his unpopular attempts at reforms.

The shake-up yielded few new clues as to who Mr Putin may select as his successor. The president is constitutionally required to step down after elections next March, but is expected to exert influence through a handpicked loyalist before mounting a possible comeback in 2012.
Sergei Ivanov, the hawkish deputy prime minister considered favourite to succeed Mr Putin until this month, kept his post as did rivals and fellow deputy prime ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Sergei Naryshkin.

Mr Ivanov had been seen as heir apparent until the president dramatically bypassed him earlier this month when he appointed Viktor Zubkov, a little known loyalist from his home city of St Petersburg, as prime minister.
The reshuffle also saw the appointment to the cabinet of Dmitry Kozak, one of Mr Putin's closest allies and a member of an increasingly powerful clique of men who worked with the president in St Petersburg City Hall in the 1990s.

[source]

[Almost a Christian]

"Reformer" and "Pro-Western". Lovely, cuddly people, torn down by the big nasty tyrant that has committed the crime of being "pro-Russian". Tsk!

[Marulus]

Originally Posted by Almost a Christian

"Reformer" and "Pro-Western". Lovely, cuddly people, torn down by the big nasty tyrant that has committed the crime of being "pro-Russian". Tsk!

"Reformer" in their phraseology means servant of the Western powers.

However, I am not sure that Putin is very pro-Russian in the nationalistic sense.

At any rate Svin thinks he is not.

But those who want to overthrow Putin and are aided by the "West" are probably hundred times worse than him.

[Almost a Christian]

Originally Posted by Plethon

"Reformer" in their phraseology means servant of the Western powers.

However, I am not sure that Putin is very pro-Russian in the nationalistic sense.

At any rate Svin thinks he is not.

But those who want to overthrow him and are aided by the "West" are probably hundred times worse than him.

He's somewhat reminscint of Franco, I think. Not a quite an ideologue but determined to do what he can to insulate his economy. In these trying times that's good enough for me anyway. Franco eventually had to cave in, but Russia is a much more robust proposition. Especially if the projections are right about the American economy about to shrivel up..