The Hindu : Putin keeps Russia guessing about new PM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 26, 2004

International

International

Putin keeps Russia guessing about new PM

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, FEB. 25. If springing a shell-bomb surprise was what the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, had in mind announcing dismissal of the Government on Tuesday, he has achieved his goal.

Though many analysts predicted a government shake-up after the March 14 presidential poll, nobody expected it to come three weeks ahead of the vote that Mr. Putin is tipped to win hands down. Under the Constitution, the Government must anyway submit its resignation after presidential election.

Mr. Putin had planned his move in tight secrecy typical of the former KGB where he began his career. The Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, learned of his resignation barely a few hours before Mr Putin announced it in a televised address to the nation, while most Ministers were caught off guard by the Cabinet dismissal.

Mr. Putin cited different reasons for sacking the Government. In Tuesday's announcement he said he wanted to go to the election with a new team that would reflect his vision for Russia in the second term.

On Wednesday, he added another reason. Meeting the outgoing Cabinet today, he said his decision not to wait till after the election to appoint a new Government was aimed at speeding up the administrative reform that has been going too slow so far.

The reform is designed to slim down the bureaucratic machine and reduce its unwarranted interference in the economy.

Mr. Putin has kept analysts guessing who could become the new Prime Minister. The list of potential candidates includes the Deputy Prime Minister, Viktor Khristenko, who has been appointed Acting Premier, the Finance Minister, Alexey Kudrin, the Defence Minister, Sergey Ivanov, the Deputy Prime Minister, Boris Alyoshin, the Deputy Chief of the Presidential Administration, Dmitry Kozak, and even the Gazprom natural gas monopoly chief, Alexey Miller.

Mr. Putin said he would consult the State Duma, Lower House of Parliament, before appointing Prime Minister. With the State Duma controlled by Mr. Putin's loyalists, he will have no difficulty winning their support for his choice.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin source was quoted as saying Mr. Putin has already picked Mr. Kasyanov's successor and this will be another big surprise, as his name has not been mentioned by the media among possible candidates.

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